Lasith Malinga Contemplating Retirement from International Cricket

Out of favour Sri Lankan bowler, Lasith Malinga has made it pretty clear he would be contemplating retirement from international cricket if Sri Lanka doesn’t require his services anymore. It’s not that Malinga wants to end his career ahead of the 2019 World Cup, but a return to international cricket seems a distant dream.

“If my services are not required any longer as a player, it’s time to move on. I know there’s still cricket left in me and if I cannot contribute as a player, I am ready to venture into mentoring leading up to the World Cup.” Malinga said.

“If someone calls me today and says ‘Look, we would like to have you within our coaching team for the World Cup’, I am ready to accept it,” he said. “Not because of anything but I want to share my knowledge with others when I can.”

“I believe in teaching by examples. I can get into the field and show how to bowl a yorker. This is important. I think if I cannot contribute as a player, I will definitely look at this option going into the World Cup,” he said adding.

Malinga who was one of the best exponents of the inswinging yorker is one of the very few bowlers to bag four-limited overs hat-tricks for Sri Lanka which also includes a rare four wickets in four balls against the Proteas in the 2007 World Cup.

He was undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s best player in ICC tournaments from 2007 to 2014. In 2017 Malinga took only 12 wickets in six T20I’s and ten wickets in 13 ODI’s. There were as many as 12 dropped catches of his ODI bowling which don’t show up in his final tally.

“I feel sorry for myself. My strength is my performance. I have 301 ODI wickets, 101 Tests wickets and 90 T20 international wickets. I took them all by playing for my country with passion and dedication. I have proved myself time and again and to be in this state is not something I expected. Yes, I had a bad series against Zimbabwe and India at home. Does it mean that I am a finished job now?”

Malinga further stated during a conversation with selectors he was made to understand that those playing in ODI cricket would be considered for T20 selections.

“How can anyone assess my performance without giving me an opportunity?” he asked. “I have not played a 50-over match since September last year.”

Malinga is the 2^nd wicket-taker in T20 cricket with 331 wickets behind his name just behind the Caribbean Dwayne Bravo who has 409 wickets under his belt.

“I have played under several selectors over the years,” he pointed out.

“But the problem I see is when individuals with a very short life-span in these positions make long-term plans. This is not going to work. If you look at who won the 2014 T20 World title, we had a very experienced team that could go out and win a match on any given day. There’s absolutely no problem in introducing young blood into the system, but they should be on a team’s long-term strategy and not for the short run.”

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