Lasith Malinga to continue playing T20Is post ODI retirement

Legendary Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga has announced that he will continue to represent Sri Lanka in the T20 format, post his retirement from ODI cricket. Earlier this week, Malinga announced that he will be retiring from ODI cricket after the first ODI against Bangladesh at Colombo on Friday. 

In a video on his wife's Facebook page, Malinga requested the fans to come and watch him play on Friday, in what would be his last ODI match. He also said that he has no hard feelings over personnel who have previously tried to phase him out of the team in the past, and that he hopes to represent Sri Lanka in the 2020 World T20. Malinga also said that he would not be sad if he was left out in the T20 in favour of better young players, but made his intentions of playing the T20 format crystal clear. 

“Friday will be the last day you will see me playing a ODI match,” Malinga said. “If you can, please come for the match," Malinga said in a video posted on his wife's Facebook page. 

"I hope to be able to take Sri Lanka to the next T20 World Cup. I hope I will have an opportunity to play in that tournament, but if there are better players than me, I don’t mind being left out. " he further added.

Malinga ended the 2019 World Cup campaign as Sri Lanka's highest wicket-taker, accounting for 13 scalps. He has represented Sri Lanka in 225 ODIs, claiming 335 wickets in the process.