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| Yet to talk to SLC about Malinga's unavailability - JayawardeneMumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene talks about preparation, player availability and more |
Lasith Malinga is likely to play at least two early-season
games for Mumbai Indians in the IPL after the BCCI asked Sri Lanka Cricket to
make the paceman available for as much of the tournament as possible.
ABOCcricinfo understands that Malinga is likely to be
available for selection for Mumbai's next two matches, both away games - on
March 28 against Royal Challengers Bangalore and on March 30 against Kings XI
Punjab. Malinga is then likely to return to Sri Lanka to feature in the Super
Provincial One-Day Tournament before rejoining Mumbai after April 10.
SLC and its selectors had earlier insisted that only players
who participate in the weeklong one-day competition would be eligible for
selection to the World Cup squad. They had also named Malinga captain of the
Galle team for that tournament.
"Anyway he has been one of our best bowlers in one
dayers, so there's no question about his place in the team"
ASHANTHA DE MEL, SRI LANKA'S CHIEF SELECTOR
But a call from the BCCI over the past three days has
prompted SLC to climb down from their position. Not only does SLC heavily
depend on India tours for broadcast income, the board is also hoping for BCCI
support for the Lankan Premier League franchise tournament, which is
tentatively slated for September.
Malinga is expected to travel to Sri Lanka from South Africa
first, and then travel to India to join Mumbai. Once the SLC confirms the dates
for the domestic ODI tournament (it is tentatively scheduled for April 4-11),
Malinga will return home and then rejoin Mumbai post the Super Provincial
tournament.
In any case, his World Cup place should not be under threat, chief selector Ashantha de Mel said.
"We have no issues if he goes to IPL - the board had
given him a no-objection certificate already, so he's free to go," said de
Mel. "Anyway he has been one of our best bowlers in one dayers, so there's
no question about his place in the team."
It was as recently as on Friday, however, that SLC CEO
Ashley de Silva had stated that participation in the domestic tournament was
likely to be essential for World Cup selection.
Although the board has now loosened its grip on Malinga,
there is at least one SLC official who feels Malinga had used his connections
in India to put pressure on SLC to release him for the IPL. In past years,
Malinga has generally prioritised commitments for Mumbai Indians over domestic
tournaments.
The latest news will buoy Mumbai, who had already lost Adam
Milne to injury. Ahead of their IPL opener - which Mumbai went on to lose to
Delhi Capitals - coach Mahela Jayawardene had said about Malinga's involvement:
"The tournament in Sri Lanka is for four or five days in April. So till
that time there is availability and when we got in at the auction, Sri Lanka
Cricket gave us his availability schedule, so obviously that tournament wasn't
a part of that. So there is a conversation to be made, once we get through that
conversation, we will let you know what's exactly happening."
Regardless of what happens at the IPL or at the Super
Provincial event, Malinga may be forced to cut his time with Mumbai short
towards the end of the IPL, as Sri Lanka gear up for the 2019 World Cup. At
present, there are plans to do several weeks of training in Scotland, just before
the World Cup, which will be played in England and Wales.
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