Allthough, he is one of the most devastating bowler world cricket has ever seen, Sri Lanka spearhead Lasith Malinga has laboured for wickets since his international comeback after a year-and-a-half, and former India cricket team pacer Zaheer Khan is among those he has turned for inputs, as two have played for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Malinga, who turned 34 on Monday, while acknowledging that his pace has dropped, said that he wants to play till 2023. He was involved in a chat with Zaheer before the third ODI in Pallekele and he was asked about it on Wednesday, as he prepared to lead the team in the fourth ODI at the Premadasa Stadium. Zaheer Khan is doing commentary in this series.
“I played with him in the IPL 3-5 years. He is a legend of the Indian bowling attack. We always talk with so many bowlers around the world. When I meet them I want to get their experience also,” Malinga said.
“Because they are in the commentary box, they look at every single body movement of mine and my bowling action, and how I swing the ball. They have a good idea of how I’m going now. So, every time I have an opportunity, we speak about my bowling action and how I have to improve,” added Malinga.
“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,” he said.
Malinga needs just one wicket to become the fourth Sri Lankan bowler to complete 300 wickets in ODI cricket. Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya have achieved this landmark for Sri Lanka.
