Internet Desk: Sri Lankan cricket is right now on a spot of bother after their team selection committee led by legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has handed their resignation letter to the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka. After that the Sri Lankan board has appointed veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga as a stop-gap captain in place of Chamara Kapugedera for the fourth ODI. Their current skipper Upul Tharanga has been banned for two matches and he will return to the team in the fifth and final ODI against the Men in Blue. Former India skipper MS Dhoni is in front of a personal milestone as he is all set to play his 300th ODI match at Colombo against Sri Lanka tomorrow. Malinga looked really happy with Dhoni’s feat. According to Slinga Malinga Dhoni is really doing well for India for a long period of time and that’s why he is playing his 300th match for a side like India.
“MS will be playing his 300th match tomorrow. Whoever is playing that number of matches – they are there because they are doing really well. Otherwise nobody could do that. MS is doing really well for the country, that’s why he’s playing 300 ODI matches. I feel also the same. If I’m doing well for the country, that’s why I’m being kept in the team. I also have 299 wickets at the moment. So I’m really happy and proud,” said Malinga at the pre-match press conference.
“I’ve played last 14 years international and franchise cricket. I’ve played every other country and every single player in national cricket. Now I’m 34. My pace is cut down. If you asked me 10 years ago, I didn’t expect this. But whoever is coming towards the end of their careers, there is failure. People talk about them not being fit enough, or not picking him.”
Malinga lauded Zaheer for helping him to learn the swing bowling and he want to bowl those deliveries in next few years.
“I played with him in the IPL close to 3-5 years. He is an legend of the Indian bowling attack in previous years. We always talk with so many bowlers around the world. When I meet them I want to get their experience also. Because they are in the commentary box, they look at every single one of my body movements and my bowling action, and how I swing the ball. They have a good idea of how I’m going now. Then every time I have an opportunity, we speak about my bowling action, and how I have to improve. Zak is more of a seam and swing bowler, and I want to learn more of that kind of thing over the next few years. That’s what I talked with him,” added Malinga.
This is not the first time that Malinga becomes the skipper of the national team. Earlier in 2014 he became the captain of the side.
“I feel in 2014, I got the opportunity to captain the national team. That time Sanath Jayasuriya was chairman of selectors. Now Sanath is there again. Now whoever has power believed I can do something. That’s why they wanted to give that opportunity to me for the next match. I want to do my best for my team and for the youngsters. Now the nation is looking forward to the next match. We want to win those two matches. That’s why I want to use my experience and give all the confidence to the young players.”