Graeme Labrooy, the Chief Selector of Sri Lanka, has given another lame excuse on the snub of Veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga by stating that he is certainly in their plans for the 2019 world cup, but need to play more domestic cricket.
“He is certainly in our plans for 2019 World Cup, but we want him to play more games. We want him to play current T20 competition & then the one-day tournament after that,” Labrooy said on Malinga, after fans and media alike criticised his committee (?) decision to ignore iconic fast bowler for Nidahas trophy.
Since Labrooy replaced Sanath Jayasuriya as chief selector, Malinga hasn’t played in any format for Sri Lanka, even though he stated before every series that Malinga is still in contention to play for Sri Lanka.
As recently as, On February 17th, he said once again that if Lasith Malinga would prove his fitness and form, he has the chance to be selected for the Nidahas trophy.
Within first two days of ongoing T20 tournament, Malinga proved both : Form and Fitness. In three matches, he his bowling figures were 4-0-30-2, 4-0-31-3 and 4-0-34-3.
Yet, he was not picked even in the 20-man preliminary squad!
It seems, Labrooy is just misleadimg Sri Lanka fans that Malinga is still in his scheme of things.
The reality is that Malinga pointed-out many shortcomings of SLC during the brain storming session by the Sports Ministry to Revamp Sri Lanka Cricket on 15th September 2017. he never played for Sri Lanka again after that!
