Lasith Malinga not playing LPL 2020: The veteran Sri Lankan fast bowler has decided to skip the inaugural season of Lanka Premier League.
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The inaugural season of the Lanka Premier League has received a significant blow in the form of Sri Lanka T20I captain Lasith Malinga opting out of the tournament a week before its start.
Malinga, 37, had last played competitive cricket in the form of a two-match T20I series against West Indies at home in March. Since then, the veteran cricketer hasn’t turned up for a competitive contest.
Slated to travel to UAE to represent Mumbai Indians in the 13th season of the Indian Premier League, Malinga ended up withdrawing from the cash-rich league due to family reasons.
Why is Lasith Malinga not playing LPL 2020?
Malinga, who was selected by Galle Gladiators as one of their marquee players, has cited “lack of training” as a reason for him opting out of the tournament.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Malinga pointed out his lack of training, undergoing mandatory quarantine in Hambantota and the hectic schedule of Lanka Premier League as the reasons behind his absence.
🇱🇰 Who are you cheering for in the inaugural Lanka Premier League?!#LPL2020 pic.twitter.com/hEsxlRQlOV
— ICC (@ICC) November 17, 2020
“Since the West Indies series early this year, I haven’t had any cricket, and there hasn’t been any training for me at all. When the draft happened last month, I thought there would be about three weeks of training before the LPL, but there has been nothing. They are only having us come to Hambantota this week, and even there they are asking us to do three days of quarantine.
“It’s not easy for a bowler to play at a high level without training. At the LPL, they also have matches on back-to-back days. So, I decided not to play the tournament,” Malinga was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Having announced their first T20 competition since 2012 in June this year, SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) have had to undergo several delays due to multiple reasons. As of now, the tournament stands to begin from November 26 at the Sooriyawewa stadium.
