Injured Lasith Malinga ruled out of World T20 2016

Sri Lanka’s World T20 campaign went from bad to worse following the shocking news of the injury to Lasith Malinga. Reports now suggest that Malinga’s knee injury has aggravated to such an extent that he is now completely ruled out of the World T20. Malinga has featured in just the one game in 2016 against the UAE in the recently concluded Asia Cup T20.

Lasith Malinga was an integral part of the squad that won the 2014 edition of the World T20 in Bangladesh. Such was his importance and prominence in the side that he was bestowed with the burden of captaincy towards the latter stages of the tournament. The 32-year old Lankan pacer was ruled out of the initial games only for him to be completely ruled out in this time around.

Although a replacement is yet to be named, the Sri Lankan cricket board is expected to name one at the earliest. The much-feared Sri Lankan bowling attack that looked invincible at one stage, now looks feeble in the absence of Malinga. The current attack comprises of Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera. Although a replacement is set to join up with the side, the attack lacks the bite and the fear-factor dimension added by Malinga. Leg spinner Sekkuge Prasanna is likely to be Malinga’s replacement. The Lankan selection panel including former batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Aravinda de Silva are reportedly monitoring the leggie’s performance in the next couple of practice matches.

Sri Lanka’s win over Afghanistan was anything but comfortable. The feeble bowling attack was there for all to see as the Afghans succeeded in keeping the match on a knife-edge before Angelo Mathews finished the job with complete efficiency.