Sri Lankan pace spearhead and T20I captain, Lasith Malinga has been ruled out of the World T20 following his continued trouble with his knee injury. He had only flown to India earlier this week and joined the World T20 squad. Although he had been ruled out of the first match against Afghanistan, it was hoped that he would feature for Sri Lanka in the remaining group stage matches.
The team management of the Sri Lankan squad on tour made the observation that Malinga's niggling injury has been swelling up and the 32-year-old was advised to take rest and return home to Colombo.
The Sri Lankan selectors will now pick a replacement based on the practice T20 matches that are to be held for the remaining players from the World T20 pool at Colombo this evening.
This comes as a big blow to the defending champions who have been in a bad run of form in the T20 format and would hamper their chances in trying to make it out of the Super 10 stage. Malinga had led the Sri Lankans to their maiden World T20 title in 2014 and his vast experience in India will be missed by his side.
Malinga's injury in his left knee had come as a result of all his body weight falling on his knee in the delivery stride. Following being out of the squad for a long time, Sri Lankan selectors had appointed Angelo Mathews as the captain of the T20I side.
In India, Malinga has played 91 matches and picked up 129 wickets at an outstanding average of 18.43 and an economy rate of 6.80. With such a record, Sri Lanka would have hoped that they could try and become the first team to defend their title.
Missing a player of such quality, it remains to be seen how the youthful Sri Lankan side can follow their opening match against Afghanistan as the tournament unfolds.
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