Colombo: Speculations of former Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga becoming the national cricket team’s fast bowling consultant coach have intensified. His name has been recommended by the Cricket Advisory Committee to the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The 38-year-old Malinga, who has played for over a decade for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will oversee the Sri Lankan team’s preparations for the upcoming T20I tour of Australia, reports said on Wednesday. Will play five matches.
Malinga is one of the most successful T20 bowlers in the world due to his sling-shot action and is a Sri Lankan icon.
Sri Lanka won the T20 World Cup in 2014 under Malinga’s captaincy, as he came in place of suspended Dinesh Chandimal. However, his overall record as captain is poor. He led the country in nine One Day Internationals and the team lost all matches. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka had lost 15 out of 24 T20 matches.
The report said that the Cricket Advisory Committee had raised its objection to supporting Malinga as a fast bowling advisory coach. The committee includes stalwarts like Kumar Sangakkara, Arvind de Silva and Muttiah Muralitharan. Malinga’s recommendation was reportedly made by former captain and advisory coach Mahela Jayawardene.
first published:Jan. 26, 2022, 8:51 pm
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