Lasith Malinga plays domestic game after being 'rested' from the national side

One of the best T20 bowlers around, Lasith Malinga was not included in the Sri Lankan squad for the three-match T20I series against India which starts on 20th December. Sri Lanka is currently playing the three-match ODI series where they play India in the third and final ODI in Vizag on December 17 to try and win the series.

Malinga missing from the squad

Sri Lanka Cricket announced their 15-man squad for the series and omission of Lasith Malinga’s name from the side raised a few eyebrows. The board in their press release said that they have rested 34-year-old Malinga for the series against India. Suranga Lakmal who’s had a good outing thus far in both Tests and ODIs has also been rested for the T20I series.

Malinga though had decided to play a three-day game in the domestic circuit. He opted to play for Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC) against SSC where he has already made an impact by picking two wickets and the match is still going on. His decision to play for the club game was made at the last moment. He was not a part of the side against Chilaw which NCC lost within 2 days.

Left BPL midway

Malinga had left his team Rangpur Riders midway through the BPL hoping for an inclusion in the national squad for the India series. Having played in the IPL for all these years with Mumbai Indians, one expected him to play a very important part in the series. His ability to bowl at the death would’ve helped Sri Lanka a lot against the formidable Indian batting.

His last game was against India in Colombo where the yorker specialist had picked the wicket of Rohit Sharma in his 4 overs giving away 31 runs. India had won the game quite convincingly with skipper Virat Kohli scoring a match-winning 82 runs.

Malinga’s form has dipped over the years because of injuries and age. He has been dropped from the ODI side already and now the decision to overlook the bowler from the squad which is set to face one of the toughest opponents India may hurt Sri Lanka dearly.