Injury-prone speedster Lasith Malinga has resigned as the captain of Sri Lankan T20 team ahead of the ICC World T20 in India, following one more disruption in the recently concluded Asia Cup held in Bangladesh.
Malinga who led the Sri Lankan team to their first title in the 2014 edition, wrote to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) late on Sunday night offering to step down as the captain. SLC Vice President Mohan de Silva said,”He will continue to make himself available for selections”.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews who captains the Sri Lankan team in Tests and ODIs will be the team’s lead in all the three formats.
Malinga is the highest wicket taker in all the T20 matches played with a staggering 299 dismissals in 221 matches played at an envying economy of 6.69. He is a wily fox when it comes to death bowling with his toe-crushing yorkers being very popular worldwide. He also holds the record for 4 wickets in 4 balls against South Africa in 2007.
Moreover, he stands as the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in ODI cricket. Additionally, he has the record for two World Cup hat-tricks in 2007 and 2011.
Incidentally, Malinga and Mathews hold a unique record for the highest 9th wicket partnership in an ODI: against Australia in Melbourne in 2010. Malinga scored 56 from 48 balls with six fours and two sixes.
It is contemplated that the SLC management is dispirited with Malinga’s policy of playing tournaments based on his reiterating knee injury. Though he led his team to victory against the UAE with a magical spell of 4/26, it turned out to be his last match in the tournament.
Angelo Mathews being backed by the board in place of Lasith Malinga
Former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya has backed Angelo Mathews to lead Sri Lanka in the ICC World T20 2016. Jayasuriya has thrown his weight behind Mathews. “Angelo Mathews should be made Sri Lanka captain for ICC World T20 2016,” said Jayasuriya during the Salaam Cricket conclave in Delhi.
The islanders crashed out of the competition losing to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan in what was their worst run in T20 history. In a related manner, Malinga had returned from injury before the Asia Cup, but could play only a single match before the nagging injury cut short his participation.
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