Lasith Malinga hints at retirement prior to the 2019 World Cup

Veteran Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga, who has been out of action for quite some time has hinted at pulling the plug on his long and illustrious career. After being consistently snubbed for national selection, Malinga this week hinted at retirement from international cricket to build a career in mentoring.

The 34-year old has been on the sidelines since a one-off T20I against India in early September. He was also left out of the touring squad to Bangladesh. Although he was keen on playing in the 2019 World Cup, he revealed he might culminate his playing career before the mega-event since the prospect of a return seems a distant dream.

Heralded for his lethal ‘slinga’, the veteran speedster claims he has no long-term goals in cricket but will be happy to provide his services as a mentor to the 2019 World Cup in England. Speaking to Sunday Times, Malinga was quoted saying, “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.”

He added, “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. Not because of anything but I want to share my knowledge with others when I can.”

Malinga is unarguably one of Sri Lanka’s iconic bowlers

Despite being out of action, Malinga still remains the second highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket with 331 wickets, second only to DJ Bravo who has 409 wickets under his belt. Malinga also has to his name four limited-over hat-tricks for Sri Lanka and was an integral cog in his country’s excellent run in global tournaments from 2007 to 2014. However, since returning to the side after a knee-surgery, his form remained a tad bit patchy.

A master of the killer in-swinging yorker that terrified even the most technically sound batsmen in the world, Malinga was unarguably Sri Lanka’s most influential bowler in the grand scheme of things in the context of the upcoming World Cup 2019.

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