Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Executive Committee has agreed the suggestion of their Chief Selector Sanath Jayasuriya to get a final opinion on Lasith Malinga from world renowned Australian doctor of Sri Lankan origin Professor Siri Kannangara.
Their Key bowler Malinga who underwent an ankle surgery in last September was expected to complete his recuperation within 16 weeks and be available for the final two matches of the current seven-match ODI series against New Zealand.
However, Jayasuriya said that Malinga’s recovery has been slower than expected and it has made them to rule him out of the series against New Zealand.
Yesterday, Jayasuriya told the stunned SLC ex-co member by informing that the star bowler’s recovery in time for the World Cup starting on February 14 now looked very slim.
“It is very unlikely that he would be able to play in the World Cup,” Jayasuriya said.
Malinga was operated on by famous Australian surgeon Dr. David Young. Jayasuriya told,
“That he was keen to have the opinion of Professor Kannangara too after learning about the Sydney based doctor’s reputation, and claimed Sri Lanka was getting desperate as they were fast running out of options.“
“I was told that he is an ankle specialist. So, let’s hope the good doctor would be able to pull off some miracle,” said Jayasuriya.
Kannangara is Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney and has functioned as a Physician and Consultant to the Australian Olympic teams at the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Games, and at World Cup events for Football, Cricket, Netball and Hockey.
Prof. Kannangara is also the Director of the New South Wales Institute of Sports Medicine and he served in the FIFA Medical Committee from 1999 to 2006.
Quite interestingly, before undergoing surgery, Malinga himself suggested that Sri Lanka should find a proper replacement for him at the World Cup.
“I will do everything I can to be back for the World Cup, but I think it would be good for us to give a young bowler a few opportunities in the meantime, so that we can at least have someone prepared,” Malinga had told media in September.
Sources told “Daily Mirror” that the Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews and other senior players had requested the national selectors to send experienced paceman Dilhara Fernando as a replacement for Malinga, which was turned down by selectors.