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Coaching staff and SLC to decide Malinga's participation in IPL

BIPIN DANI. Dated: 12/18/2018 12:32:32 AM

Mahela arrives for IPL auction

MUMBAI, Dec 17: Decision on Lasith Malinga's participation in next year's IPL (Indian Premier League) will be taken by the coaching staff and the SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) board, according to Ashantha De Mel, the chief selector.
"At this stage we don't come into the picture. That decision (whether to issue him an NOC) will be taken by the coaches and the board", speaking exclusively, he said over telephone from Colombo.
Sri Lanka great and Indian Premier League's highest-wicket taker Lasith Malinga is back in the auction pool ahead of the 12th edition of the cash-rich league, due to start in the third week of March.
Malinga was mulling retirement after he went unsold last year and became mentor for the Mumbai Indians team. Now the auction is scheduled to take place in Jaipur on Tuesday.
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jaywardene is already in India for the auction. He is a coach of the Mumbai Indian team.
World Cup player :"Sri Lanka's ODI and T-20 captain Lasith Malinga is definitely in plan for the next year's World Cup and that's why we have chosen him to lead the side", the chairman added. The 35-year-old right-arm fast bowler Malinga has been made captain for the forthcoming ODIs' and T-20 squad for the New Zealand tour. "If he maintains his fitness and continues playing with the good performance, he can certainly play the World Cup", he added.
"As per our present policy, we don't appoint captain on a long term basis. It will be appointed on a series by series basis. Our next tour is South Africa, where again Malinga's performance and fitness will be reviewed", another SLC official added.
"We received the feedback (on composition of the team) from the coach (Chandika Hathrusinghe) earlier . We selected the captain first and then he was invited to select the rest of the members of the team", the source further added.
Interestingly, the team has been approved by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena, unlike in the earlier cases where the sports minister's nod was being sought. This may be due to the current political situation in the country. Sri Lanka will play three ODIs' and one T-20 in New Zealand.