Lasith Malinga to Quit International Cricket After 2020 T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka’s talisman fast bowler Lasith Malinga will bid adieu to the game after the completion of the 2020 World Cup, set to be played in Australia. Malinga will retire from One Day International format after the completion of the forthcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Subsequently, he will focus on the shortest format of the game.

Malinga confirmed the news that the upcoming ODI showpiece in England and Wales will be his swansong in the 50-overs format. The gun fast bowler revealed the big news after his side 16-run loss against South Africa in the second T20I.

Malinga has been a huge servant of Sri Lankan cricket.

“After the World Cup, my cricketing career is ending,” said the 35-year-old after Sri Lanka were handed a 16-run defeat by South Africa in the second T20I at SuperSport Park on Friday. “I want to play in the T20 World Cup and then end my career.”

Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga is regarded as one of the best death bowlers to have played the game. Malinga had made his debut back in 2004 and has been a perfect servant of the Sri Lankan Cricket.

In fact, Lasith Malinga is going to miss the first few matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League. The talisman fast bowler will need to participate in the provisional tournament in Sri Lanka. The provisional One Day tournament will begin from April 4 to April 11.

“I had asked the [Sri Lanka] board for a No-Objection Certificate for me to play in the IPL, and they had said that was fine, but that all players who want to go to the World Cup would need to stay back for the provincial tournament,” Malinga was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga has been instrumental in the success of the Sri Lankan team over the years. In fact, his form was dipping last year but he was able to make a roaring comeback. The linchpin pacer was bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 2 crore in the IPL 2018-19 Auctions. Malinga is currently leading the team against South Africa in the T20I series.