Veteran fast bowler from Sri Lanka Lasith Malinga will miss the initial phase of IPL 2020. The pacer, who has been the heart of Mumbai Indians since the starts of the league, will miss owing to personal reasons.
Speculations started to grip as there was no trace of the pacer in the country. While the likes of Isuru Udana and other Sri Lankan players applied for the NOC, Lasith Malinga was nowhere in the news.
Lasith Malinga to miss IPL 2020
Meanwhile, a report in ESPNCricinfo suggests that Malinga’s father has been unwell since the last few days and may require surgery in the coming weeks. Malinga wants to be by his side and will be training in Colombo to keep himself fit for the cash-rich league.
It is believed Malinga is likely to join Mumbai during the business end of the tournament, including the playoffs, where his experience will come handy. Mumbai will desperately want Lasith Malinga to join the squad at any point of the tournament.
Lasith Malinga has been an integral part of Mumbai Indians. He has played significant roles in helping the Rohit Sharma-led side win the title four times. Malinga’s last-over heroics in the IPL 2019 final helped Mumbai win their fourth title against Chennai Super Kings.
The 37-year-old has played 122 games in the IPL scalping 170 wickets with the best figures of five for 13. It will be a massive blow for the defending champions Mumbai Indians, who will now have to rely on Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs.
Incidentally, the Sri Lankan legend last played during the T20I series against West Indies in March this year. He was also not a part of the conditional camps organised by Sri Lanka Cricket in the months of June and July.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have already landed in Abu Dhabi to prepare for the 13th edition of the cash-rich league. The prominent league will commence from September 19 and will run until November 10 in the UAE.