Sri Lankan bowling legend Chaminda Vaas agreed with the Chennai Super Kings Skipper MS Dhoni’s advice to not play young bowling sensation Matheesha Pathirana in red-ball cricket for Sri Lanka to protect him for all-important ICC events and white-ball cricket for Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Lasith Malinga who is closely working with Pathirana disagreed with the former Indian Skipper’s statement to keep him away from the longer format of the game, as he stated that the red-ball game will only improve his technique and skillsets in the game, stating himself as an example as he played 30 matches for Sri Lanka in test cricket.
Former Sri Lankan Cricketer Chaminda Vaas agreed with MS Dhoni’s comments and revealed that he mentioned the same thing to the Sri Lankan team management when he was working with Sri Lankan Cricket and reckons that it is important to protect a player like Matheesha Pathirana for a longer time as it would difficult for him to play three formats with that unorthodox action.
“I was working for Sri Lanka Cricket one year back and I mentioned the same thing to them. A person like Mathi should be preserved. If he played all the formats, he would not survive because of the way he bowls. He doesn’t have an easy action, a unique action that is very strenuous,” he added.
Vaas said that fitness will be a cause of concern if he plays the longer format of the game and feels that bowling more overs can result in injuries to the youngster.
“So fitness will come into the picture. Bowling four-overs is OK. As Dhoni said, if you bowl more than that, then the problem will arise. I totally agree,” Vaas said Gulf News.
Playing all three formats for the national team as well as franchise cricket becomes extremely difficult for a player’s body and playing Test cricket involves bowling long and challenging spells that are pathways to injuries.
The 20-year-old has been the standout performer for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023. The right-arm pacer has impressed everyone with his pace and ability to bowl in the death overs.
Matheesha Pathirana has emerged as Dhoni’s go-to man in death overs. He has 15 wickets from 10 matches for CSK, with an economy rate of 7.56, having bowled at the death overs for the four-time champions.
Sri Lanka fast bowler Pathirana also known as ‘Baby Malinga’, made the headlines during the Under-19 World Cup. The Sri Lankan pacer has grown strength to strength in the last 12 months playing for his country and franchise leagues around the globe.