Lasith Malinga puts bowling shoes to rest

By Amindha de Alwis

Lasith Malinga, perhaps Sri Lanka’s most iconic fast-bowler, announced his retirement from T20 cricket in a video on his personal YouTube channel yesterday.

With T20 having been the only format of the game that the speedster remained active in, the announcement brings to an end a glittering career that captivated fans both home and away.

Malinga retires as the leading wicket-taker in Men’s T20Is with a total of 107 scalps. Renowned as one of the finest death-bowlers to grace the game, he plied his trade for several T20 franchises across the world, most notably the Mumbai Indians and the Melbourne Stars, amassing 390 wickets in 295 games at an exceptional economy rate of just 7.07.

Malinga was also captain of the Sri Lanka side that won the 2014 T20 Word Cup in Bangladesh where his salvo of wide-yorkers strangled the star-studded India batting line-up.

In his retirement video, the fast-bowler thanked the players and officials he had associated with in the Sri Lanka side as well as in a number of franchises that he went on to list.

The video concluded with Malinga placing a pair of his boots on a pedestal to signify the close of his playing career.

“I want to thank each and everyone who ever supported me and blessed me throughout my T20 journey. Today I decide I want to give 100% rest to my T20 bowling shoes,” Malinga said.

• Malinga retires as the leading wicket-taker in Men’s T20Is with a total of 107 scalps. Renowned as one of the finest death-bowlers to grace the game