Lasith Malinga Out of Sri Lanka's World T20 Campaign Due to Injury
Lasith Malinga's knee injury flared up before Sri Lanka's World T20 match against Afghanistan on Thursday
Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been ruled out of the World T20 due to a knee injury, the defending champions said on Friday.
"Malinga's knee injury flared up before the match against Afghanistan yesterday," a team spokesperson said.
"He has been ruled out of the World Cup and has flown back to Sri Lanka this afternoon."
Malinga's Niggle Flares Up Again
The 32-year-old paceman with blond-tinted hair and an unorthodox action is not quite the same player who was a key figure in Sri Lanka's progress to three World Twenty20 finals in the last four tournaments.
He was, however, considered key to their success in India, where he has performed admirably in the Indian Premier League.
"Sri Lanka team management on tour have observed that Malinga whose niggling injury has been flaring up would be better off resting it, and have recommended he return to Colombo," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
The selectors will choose Malinga's replacement after practice matches between the remaining players in the World T20 squad to be played in Colombo later on Friday.
Sri Lanka will take on 2012 champions West Indies in their second Group One match in Bangalore on Sunday.