The Story
Sri Lankan fast bowling superstar Lasith Malinga has been confirmed as a part of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for the upcoming season.
He will be turning up for the Rangpur Riders, as confirmed by the chairman of the franchise, Mustafa Azad Mohiuddin.
The fifth season of the Bangladesh Premier League will be launched from 4th of November this year.
His participation in the league was in doubts due to scheduling conflicts, as he was supposed to appear in the inaugural Global T20 League. However, the South African league has now been postponed by the organisers owing to a financial crisis. Therefore, giving the Lankan star to make his availability clear.
Malinga’s career has been troubled by injuries in the last couple of years. Fitness was one of the key factors behind his decision to retire from Test cricket in 2011. He cited the long-standing problem on his right knee as the reason.
But, despite setting himself free from the rigours of Test cricket, his body failed to co-operate with him entirely. Last year, he spent almost a year away from an active cricket due to the same problems. The injury occurred in February 2016 and kept him away from competitive games until September. Further setback hit him after he suffered Dengue.
More recently, his form has caused concern regarding his future with Sri Lanka cricket. Sri Lanka dropped him for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Pakistan also.
Malinga has been one of the most devastating bowlers in the limited-overs arena since the last decade. He had successfully helped Sri Lanka reach the finals of the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, and 2009 and 2012 World T20.
All these final appearances ended in a loss, but Malinga eventually was to the fore as the captain when Sri Lanka lifted the 2014 World T20 trophy.
In the world of league cricket, Malinga had successfully represented Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League, Melbourne Stars in Big Bash League and Kent in English County.
Amidst all the injury and form related concerns, it will be interesting to see the decisions Malinga would take in the future.
Rangpur Riders Team: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Icon), Mohammad Mithun, Rubel Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Shahriyar Nafees, Nazmul Opu, Ziaur Rahman, Fazle Rabbi, Abdur Razzak, Ebadot Hossain, Ilias Sunny, Nahidul Islam, Jahir Khan, Robi Bopara, David Willy, Samuel Badree, Johnson Charles, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Adam Leith, Chris Gayle, Samiullah Shenwari, Sam Hein and Lasith Malinga.