Bipin Dani
Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga who has announced his retirement from the franchise cricket on Wednesday is not on selectors’ radar for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies where the visitors are to play three T20Is (along with two Tests and three ODIs).
According to the highly placed sources in the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board office, the selectors, in consultation with the captain and the coach, have sent a training squad of 35 players and Malinga’s name is missing.
Earlier this month, Malinga had communicated his decision to the Mumbai Indians (MI) management through the MI owners wanted him to be the team’s bowling consultant.
Last year, Malinga neither played the IPL (in the UAE) or Lanka Premier League (LPL) for Galle Gladiators in Sri Lanka.
The 37-year-old right arm fast bowler has announced his retirement from Test and ODI cricket but is yet to retire from the shortest format of the game.
Only 17 or 18 players at a time will be part of the red and white ball teams during the Windies tour. Red ball players will return after the Tests and white ball players will join the squad in the second batch, it is understood.
In the meantime, all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga may not find a place in the final eleven for the second Test against England commencing at Galle on Friday. He may be dropped only for cricketing reasons.
