Lasith Malinga rebels against MS Dhoni, orders Matheesha Pathirana to play Test cricket

Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has urged young pacer Matheesha Pathirana to play Test cricket despite his unique bowling action. Malinga added that participating in Test matches will help Pathirana sharpen his skills and make a significant contribution to Sri Lanka cricket’s future success.

Pathirana began his international career with Sri Lanka in August 2022 during the Asia Cup. The bowler conceded 16 runs in his only over as Sri Lanka lost by 8 wickets. He made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in June 2023 but took just one wicket. He is yet to make his debut in Test cricket.

Matheesha Pathirana Should Play 5 to 10 Test Matches for Sri Lanka - Lasith Malinga

In a Facebook post, Lasith Malinga stated that Pathirana needs to play Test cricket. He added that playing Test matches will help Pathirana develop further and allow him to achieve great things for the country.

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"I still believe that Matheesha Pathirana should play 5 to 10 Test matches for Sri Lanka in the coming days. If that happens, he will be able to do great things for the country," Malinga wrote.

Lasith Malinga says Matheesha Pathirana should play four-day and Test cricket to sharpen his skills and improve as a bowler. pic.twitter.com/4NG14CaFOZ

— Cricwire (@CricWireLK) August 10, 2025

I Feel Matheesha Pathirana Should Not Play Red-Ball Cricket - Says MS Dhoni

During IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni said that Pathirana should focus solely on limited-overs cricket, especially T20s and ICC tournaments, rather than red-ball formats. Dhoni urged Sri Lanka to manage his workload carefully.

"I feel he should not play red-ball cricket, not even get close to it, even play only ICC tournaments with ODIs and keep the rest as less as possible, because he's not someone who'll change a lot," Dhoni had said.

"This is what he'll do. So you can always use him at crucial times. But make sure he's fit and available for all the ICC tournaments and he'll be a great asset for Sri Lanka," he added.

Pathirana made a strong impact during IPL 2023. He took 10 wickets for Chennai Super Kings, who secured the title that season. The fast bowler delivered key performances and helped win several matches with his spells.

Matheesha Pathirana’s Bowling Performances for Sri Lanka and Franchise Teams

Matheesha Pathirana began his professional cricket journey in domestic competitions and caught attention during the ICC U-19 World Cup with his consistent bowling.

In international cricket, Pathirana has played 12 ODI matches, taking 17 wickets at an average of 36.23. He has also featured in 19 T20I games and claimed 30 wickets. The pacer has recorded three four-wicket hauls in limited-overs cricket.

Beyond international cricket, Pathirana has performed well in franchise leagues such as the IPL, SA20, and LPL. Notably, he has played 32 IPL matches and taken 47 wickets. He was retained by CSK for Rs 13 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.

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