Malinga can still contribute to Sri Lankan cricket, feels Chandika Hathurusingha

03/05/2018

Sri Lanka head coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes that veteran pace bowler Lasith Malinga could still make a comeback to the national team ahead of the World Cup. Hathurusingha also admitted that India would start as favourites in the upcoming tri-nation series, Nidahas Trophy.

Sri Lanka’s once fearsome lethal weapon, Lasith Malinga, has been reduced to a non-regular now. Not only has he lost the pace he once possessed, but injuries have also plagued his blazing career. With the 34-year-old trying to make his way up through the domestic leagues, Sri Lanka coach seemed confident of him making a comeback to the national side.

Malinga has not played an international game since September 6 last year. And though he has been quite spectacular in the ongoing domestic T20 competition in Sri Lanka, the selectors didn’t pick him for the tours of UAE (against Pakistan), India and Bangladesh.

With the 2019 World Cup only 15 months away, it has been also believed that the selectors are looking at different options. But, Hathurusingha has revealed that the veteran pacer was still very much in the scheme of things for Sri Lanka. He even compared Malinga with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

“Lasith is a wonderful player - someone who has a global reputation, not just in Sri Lanka. I think he's an icon player for the game. Like in basketball they have Michael Jordan, and Malinga is that with cricket. In terms of form, he has done well in the recent past. I can't talk about what was talked about in the selectors' meeting, but I think he can contribute to Sri Lankan cricket in the future,” said the former Bangladesh coach.

Even though India have sent a second-string side for the upcoming T20 tri-series, Hathurusingha has admitted that the Men in Blue would start as the favourites. However, he also stated that his team (Sri Lanka) has an edge over Bangladesh because of the recent results.

“If you go by the ratings, India is the number one team. So they always start ahead of the other teams. Whoever comes for India, they are still a very strong team. We have to start well because we haven't been doing well at home. With Bangladesh, because of the last series, we probably have a little edge over them mentally. But still, India is the number one team,” the former Sri Lankan batsman stated.

With plenty of opening options available, Hathurusingha said that they will try and play the best possible combination. However, that decision might also be made on other teams’ strengths and weaknesses.

“We have a few options. We will open with whoever we feel will play the best. We'll also look at the other teams' strengths and limitations before coming to that decision,” the 49-year-old remarked.

The first T20I of the tri-series will be played between India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday, March 6.