Malinga to miss the ODI series against New Zealand

After a disastrous outing in the two-Test series against New Zealand earlier this month, the Sri Lankan cricket team is set to have more miseries in their tour to the Tasmanian Nation as their pace spearhead Lasith Malinga is on the verge of being ruled out of the entire limited overs leg due to a knee injury.

Although his omission from the five-match ODI series and the following T20Is is uncertain, Malinga will be missing the first two ODIs due to the injury he sustained during the ODI series against West Indies.

The Lankan team manager Jerry Woutersz has revealed that the pacer is yet to arrive in New Zealand and is not sure of his arrival in-between the ODI and the T20I series. He also confirmed about his knee surgery. "He has not come for the ODIs. He's feeling some discomfort in his knee. Whether he will come between the ODIs and T20s - no one knows," Woutersz said.

All-rounder Thisara Perera has been called to replace Malinga in the ODIs and T20Is. Malinga’s absence means that Sri Lanka will be having a new skipper for the T20Is that follow the ODIs. The selectors are yet to name the captain of the T20I side if Malinga is ruled out of that series as well.

Former New Zealand batsman and their current batting coach Craig McMillan has termed Malinga's absence as a "big loss" for Sri Lanka. McMillan said “What a contributor Malinga has been over a number of years for Sri Lanka. He has been their key fast bowler. He's a handful. I'm sure they'll miss him, but it gives an opportunity to some other younger guys in the squad."

This is the second major injury for the Lions in this tour after fast bowler Dhammika Prasad was ruled out through an injury before the Test series, while wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Perera is suspended after testing positive for banned substances.

In the absence of Malinga and Prasad, the burden lies on the young shoulders of Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal with spinners Ajantha Mendis and Milinda Siriwardana backing them.

Having lost the Test series 2-0, the depleted Sri Lankan side will hope to put on an improved show in the ODIs. The first match of the five-match ODI series begins on 26 December (Boxing Day ODI) at Christchurch.