• Malinga to retire after T20 World Cup

    Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga will retire from international cricket after next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

    Malinga, too, might quit ODI cricket after this year’s World Cup in England and Wales.

    ‘I want to play in the T20 World Cup and then end my career. After the World Cup, my cricketing career is ending,’ said Malinga.

    He is currently the captain of the ODI and T20I team in South Africa, where Sri Lanka have lost seven consecutive fixtures.

    The 35-year-old will join the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League later this month, after a playing domestic cricket in Sri Lanka.

    ‘I had asked the board for the no-objection certificate for me to play in the IPL and they had said that was fine, but that all players who want to go to the World Cup would need to stay back for the provincial tournament,’ Malinga told ESPNcricinfo.

    ‘So I told them I’d play in the provincial tournament and I asked the board to inform the Mumbai Indians and IPL, since it was their decision. I’m ok with losing those earnings from IPL. I’m doing it for the country.’

    Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene added:  When we got Malinga in the auction, Sri Lanka Cricket gave us his availability schedule. That domestic tournament wasn’t a part of that. There is a conversation to be made. Once we get through that conversation, we’ll know exactly what’s happening.’

    He has played 218 ODIs and 72 T20Is since July 2004’s debut. The veteran right-armer has also gathered 30 Tests, but none since August 2010.

    Photo: Gallo Images

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