Lasith Malinga made available to Mumbai Indians after SLC change of heart

Lasith Malinga will now be available for Mumbai Indians through the entirety of April, with Sri Lanka Cricket granting the paceman permission to skip the domestic Super Provincial One-Day Tournament, which he was earlier expected to take part in. However, Malinga is keen to participate in the domestic tournament, because, as Sri Lanka's limited-overs captain, he wants to have a close look at some of the players that are likely to feature in the World Cup squad.

In a statement on Tuesday, SLC said that the decision to release Malinga was because "he would get an opportunity to play with much stronger opposition in the IPL tournament, which consist of international players."

Malinga told ESPNcricinfo that he would consult the Mumbai Indians management on whether he would be allowed to participate in the domestic one-day tournament, which is likely to be played between April 4 to 11, although the SLC has not yet released the final schedule for the tournament.

"As the captain of the Sri Lanka ODI team, I also think it is important to play the provincial tournament, because I will also be able to see our players in action first hand"

LASITH MALINGA

"I'm very thankful to the board for having released me for the full IPL," Malinga said. "But as the captain of the Sri Lanka ODI team, I also think it is important to play the provincial tournament, because I will also be able to see our players in action first hand. I will go to Mumbai and I'll talk to the management there about getting released to play the provincial tournament."

Malinga will now join the Mumbai team, and is likely to be available for selection for their next match, away against Royal Challengers Bangalore, on Thursday. In case Malinga does return to Sri Lanka to play in the domestic one-dayers, he might leave after the April 3 match against Chennai Super Kings and miss about three matches in case his team - Galle - reach the final.

Incidentally, it was only last week the SLC had a very different view on Malinga's participation in the IPL. Last Friday, the SLC had stipulated that Malinga must play in the weeklong provincial one-day tournament in Sri Lanka in order to be considered for selection in the World Cup squad. But the board climbed down from that position over the weekend, until the final decision to allow Malinga to skip the provincial tournament in its entirety.

The SLC decision comes on the back of intervention from BCCI, which wanted to ensure maximum availability of prominent overseas players in the IPL at least in the first half. Before the player auction in December, all the international boards had already notified the BCCI about the cut-off dates for their players to be released from the IPL. Barring New Zealand and West Indies, players from rest of the World Cup-participating countries would be leaving the IPL early to take part in preparatory camps or ODI series in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Although there is some dissatisfaction on the Malinga issue within the board (at least one official believes Malinga used his contacts in India to get the BCCI to campaign for his release from the domestic tournament in Sri Lanka), the board's decision is a reflection of the power the BCCI wields. Not only is SLC heavily reliant on India tours for broadcast income, the board is also hoping for the BCCI's support with the launch of the Lankan Premier League, which is tentatively scheduled for September.

Even if Malinga doesn't play in the domestic tournament, he may yet be required to cut his IPL stint short in May, when Sri Lanka's World Cup squad assembles for a pre-tournament camp. Sri Lanka are expected to undertake several weeks of acclimatisation and training in Scotland, ahead of the World Cup in England and Wales.

Drama in Jaipur as Jos Buttler mankaded by R Ashwin

R Ashwin has reignited the spirit-of-cricket debate by running out non-striker Jos Buttler without bowling the ball. It turns out the dismissal was touch and go when it comes to being within the laws of the game.

Running in to deliver the penultimate delivery of his final over, Ashwin stopped after entering his delivery stride. Buttler didn't have his eye on the bowler and slipped out of the crease. As soon as he saw that, Ashwin simply turned around and broke the stumps at the non-strikers' end with the batsman out of his crease. The decision was sent up to the third umpire, who didn't need much time to send Buttler on his way.

Rajasthan Royals' Buttler had an unpleasant exchange with Ashwin, the Kings XI Punjab captain, while the third umpire made his decision. He walked off angry, and was seen shouting in the general direction of one of the dugouts.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashwin said of the incident: "Look, it was very instinctive. On my part, it was very instinctive. It was not planned or anything like that. It's there within the rules of the game. I don't understand where the spirit of the game comes, naturally if it's there in the rules it's there."

Responding to a comparison drawn between this incident and the 1987 World Cup match between West Indies and Pakistan - where Courtney Walsh did not run non-striker Saleem Jaffar out in the last over of the match, despite the latter being well out of his crease - Ashwin said the question of 'sporting' didn't arise when it came to rules.

"I don't understand the point of sporting or sportive in that point because it's rules. What applies for one man does not apply for everyone else. Neither was Jos Buttler playing there nor was I played so it's very pertinent to just not compare two people..."

This was not the first time Buttler had been run out backing up too far. On air in host broadcaster Star Sports' "Dugout", Kumar Sangakkara pointed out how, in a game against Sri Lanka in 2014, Buttler was run out in a similar fashion after two warnings by Sachithra Senanayake. Ashwin, too, had attempted dismissing a batsman in similar fashion a few years ago. During an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2012, Ashwin had run out Lahiru Thirimanne for backing up too much. The appeal was withdrawn by then India captain Virender Sehwag, who stated that Ashwin had warned Thirimanne before attempting the dismissal.

The question here, though, was whether Buttler would have been inside his crease had Ashwin not stopped at the point of delivery. The updated Law 41.16 says: "If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out."

The wording "expected to release the ball" leaves room for subjectivity, which is where Ashwin's assertion that he hadn't even loaded becomes critical. If the bowler hadn't even loaded, as Ashwin said, is it possible to estimate a time when he was "expected to release the ball"?

Royals' coach Paddy Upton, though, didn't bother about the technicalities. He was miffed, and it showed in the press conference. "I think R Ashwin's actions tonight speak for him and represent him, when I looked at his team-mates," Upton said, "and I'm not sure it represented his team-mates. I think we'll leave it up to the IPL fans to decide if that's the kind of things they want to see, and we'll leave it up to the cricket world to judge R Ashwin's actions tonight. But for us, we're certainly here to play cricket and entertain the fans and be good role models for people who love the game."

Buttler was looking in control of the chase of 185 at that time, having scored 69 off 43. His wicket, though, triggered a collapse as hosts Rajasthan Royals lost seven wickets for 16 runs to lose by 14 runs. Every wicket brought about loud boos from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium crowd.

At the end of the match, Buttler shook Ashwin's hand, but refused to look his way. Just behind Buttler, Upton seemed to have said something to Ashwin while shaking his hand, which made Ashwin stop in his tracks and give them a bemused look.

"Part and parcel," Royals' captain Ajinkya Rahane said at the post-match presentation. "Sadly we are not allowed to comment on controversial issues. I am sure the match referee will take a call. We take these decisions sportingly."

SLC softens stance, Lasith Malinga likely to be available for Mumbai Indians' next two games

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.

Hardik Pandya fit, Shivam Mavi out, Sourav Ganguly is "advisor"

Fit again, Hardik joins Mumbai Indians

India allrounder Hardik Pandya has regained full fitness and has joined Mumbai Indians' preparatory camp which started on Tuesday. Hardik had been rested by the Indian team management for the entire limited overs series against Australia due to "lower back stiffness." During the time away from the national team, Pandya was at the NCA in Bengaluru for rehabilitation. On Thursday, Hardik even tweeted a video of him batting at the nets, asking fans who he was trying to imitate.

KKR get Warrier; Nagarkoti, Mavi ruled out

Tearaway quick Kamlesh Nagarkoti has been ruled out of the IPL for a second time running, as he's yet to recover from a back injury. The franchise has signed Kerala fast bowler Sandeep Warrier as his replacement.

Nagarkoti, one of India's key players during the Under-19 World Cup triumph last year, was signed for INR 3.2 crores. He's currently at the NCA, and will need another "two-three months" to fully recover. In his absence, KKR had signed Karnataka seamer Prasidh Krishna last year. He has now been inducted as a permanent member.

Their injury concerns don't end there. Shivam Mavi, also part of the Under-19 World Cup winning team last year, has been ruled out of the ongoing season with a stress fracture in his back. Mavi, who plays for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit, is likely to be out of action for at least six months.

Meanwhile, this will be Warrier's second IPL stint, after being part of Royal Challengers Bangalore for three seasons (2013-15), but couldn't get a game. Warrier, who had set his base price of INR 20 lakhs, went unsold. He played a key role in Kerala's first-class season, picking 44 wickets in 10 matches.

His eight-for in the quarterfinal against Gujarat took Kerala to the semi-final for the first time in the tournament history. He carried his form to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he picked eight wickets in six matches, including a hat-trick in the game against Andhra in the group stage.

Ganguly roped in by Delhi Capitals as advisor

There were whispers as early as March 2018 that Sourav Ganguly was advising Parth Jindal, the new franchise head, on matters regarding Delhi Capital (formerly Delhi Daredevils). On Thursday, it was announced that Ganguly has been signed as an advisor, although the exact nature of his role is yet unclear. Ganguly was part of KKR's leadership for three seasons, and finished his IPL career with Pune Warriors in 2013.