Just IN: Lasith Malinga Announces Retirement From All Forms Of Cricket

After playing for close to 16 years in international cricket, former Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga on Tuesday declared his retirement from all formats of the game.

The 38-year-old Malinga, who played 339 international matches for Sri Lanka across all formats, took to his YouTube channel to announce his retirement.

Lasith Malinga announces retirement from all formats

“The experience that I have gained through the past 17 years will no longer be needed in the field since I have decided to retire from T20I Cricket marking my retirement from all formats of cricket,” Malinga said in a video posted on his official YouTube channel.

“But I will be continuously supporting the younger generations who thrives to uplift the spirit of the game and I will always be there with all who love the game,” he added.

Malinga not only mentioned his national team in his farewell video but also thanked all the franchise cricket teams and owners for whom he represented in his journey.

Lasith Malinga is the leading wicket-takers in T20Is

Under Malinga’s captaincy, Sri Lanka won the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup after they defeated India by six wickets in the final in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Malinga also led Sri Lanka’s attack in the 2019 World Cup and picked 13 wickets in the tournament. After the World Cup, Malinga decided to retire from ODI cricket in the first ODI against Bangladesh at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in 2019.

Malinga is the only bowler to have picked four wickets in four consecutive deliveries on a couple of occasions and he also has five international hat-tricks to his name- three in ODIS and two in T20 Internationals.

With 107 wickets, Malinga is currently the leading wicket-taker in T20I format in the world and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who has 102 wickets in his bag, will chase for the record.

Malinga’s retirement comes after he was ignored by SLC for Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad as the bowler had expressed his wish to retire after playing the showpiece event.

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