Malinga ruled out of entire IPL season

Mumbai Indians are yet to make an official statement about the pacer’s availability, but a report on ESPNcricinfo said that the pacer will be out for another four months. Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting had confirmed, two days before the start of the IPL, that Malinga is likely to miss the first half of the tournament with the injury the pacer had sustained at the start of the Asia Cup. The former Australian captain had also said that Malinga will join the squad after the first week to have his fitness assessed.

“I believe he will be joining us after the first couple of games to have his fitness assessed. Right now it's unlikely he will take part in the first half of the tournament anyway," Ponting had said, reported ESPNcricinfo.

The Sri Lankan Board as well released a statement that said, "Mr. Malinga will present himself before the SLC panel of expert doctors on Wednesday (April 20) and depending on the outcome of the said medical examinations, be required to face a match fitness grading, after which SLC will take the next appropriate steps.”

Malinga’s last match was in February against UAE in the Asia Cup, where he picked four wickets for 24 runs. The pacer missed the rest of the matches in the Asia Cup and stepped down as the captain after the debacle, and also pulled out of the World T20 after failing to recover from the injury in time.