NEWS
Follow UsSri Lanka Cricket's new policies set for players' national team selection could see the country's star bowler Lasith Malinga fall out of contention for a place in the T20 World Cup squad. The 37-year old, who last played international cricket in March last year, is also yet to confirm his availability for the mega tournament.
SLC's selection committee chief Pramodya Wickramasinghe said Malinga is Sri Lanka’s best T20 player but when the time comes, he will also be judged on the basis of the new guidelines. A strict fitness test is part of the new guidelines that requires a player to run 2 kms in 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
“We know he is the best T20 player and his services are always very important. But all players are equal for us and we apply the same guidelines in selections,” Wickramasinghe told Sri Lanka’s Daily News.
“I spoke with Lasith Malinga and asked him if he is hoping to play in the T20 World Cup this year. He told me that he hasn’t played competitive cricket in about one and a half years,” he added.
To be eligible for national selection, a player must pass the new fitness tests and additionally should have been playing domestic cricket.
“I also told him that one should also be playing domestic cricket to be eligible for national selection. If Malinga can fulfill all these requirements, we will consider him for selection at that time,” Wickramasinghe said.
Wickramasinghe said Malinga though hasn’t given a clarity either whether he hopes to be a part of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup team.
“Malinga appreciated our selection policies and asked me to continue with them. However, Malinga did not give a clear response whether he intends playing in the T20 World Cup or not,” he said.