Sri Lanka and Mumbai Indians’ fast bowler Lasith Malinga is hailed as perhaps the greatest T20 bowler of all time. The leading wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League with 170 scalps in 122 matches, Malinga played a vital role in MI winning the IPL 2019, defending 8 runs in an excellent final over.
However, Malinga, who turns 37 on the 28th August, will not be traveling to the UAE to join his other MI teammates and is set to miss some initial games for his franchise in the upcoming IPL 2020 which begins on September 19.
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As per ESPNCricinfo’s reports, Lasith’s father is ill and may undergo surgery in the coming days, hence he has chosen to stay with his family and will be training in Colombo during this time. Because of frequent knee injury problems, Malinga has his own special training program.
The Mumbai Indians players reached UAE to set up their base at St Regis, Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The property belongs to Marriott Group, one of the sponsors of the franchise.
Malinga, last played for Sri Lanka in a T20I against the West Indies in March 2020, before the Coronavirus pandemic halted all cricket. Incidentally, he did not participate in the residential conditioning camps Sri Lanka Cricket organized in June and July.
Meanwhile, another Sri Lankan pacer, Isuru Udana received his permission and NOC from the SLC and will leave for UAE on Friday. Udana will play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in his first appearance in the IPL, alongside the likes of De Villiers, Kohli, Finch and others.
