Malinga released for BBL semi-final

Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has been released by Sri Lanka Cricket for the upcoming Big Bash League semi-finals. Malinga plays for the Melbourne Stars, who will play the Hobart Hurricanes on February 4 in Melbourne.

Malinga was earlier recalled, along with Ajantha Mendis, by SLC so that the pair could undertake a training programme in Sri Lanka. Malinga's fitness was a concern for SLC, and the board wanted him fit for a busy schedule featuring the Asia Cup and World T20 in the coming months.

SLC said in a release: "Since he had shown a tremendous improvement in his fitness levels in the said training programme, the national coaching staff together with the national selectors took the decision to release him to play in the Big Bash."

A special request was made by the management of the Stars to SLC to release Malinga.