Kumar Sangakkara terms the notion of Lasith Malinga abandoning Test Cricket for IPL as “Nonsense”
Former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara has termed the speculations regarding Malinga's decision against Test cricket for the sake of IPL (Indian Premier League) as utter nonsense.
Sangakkara in fact supported Malinga’s decision, believing that it was a prolonged knee injury that forced Malinga to bid farewell to the longest version of the game.
"I don't think there was ever a question Lasith did not want to play Test cricket. He wanted to play in all three formats of the game. Unfortunately for him, his body was not able to stand the rigours of Test cricket,” he said while defending the ace bowler.
'Slinga Malinga' this week announced his retirement from Test cricket in a bid to prevent his knee problem from further aggravation.
However, his decision was marred by controversy in Sri Lanka as some suggested that he had taken this step after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wanted him to leave the ongoing IPL and return home to tend to his knee before the Test series against the English.
With his retirement announced, Malinga now does not have to leave the IPL. However, Sangakkara reiterated that there was absolutely no chance of Malinga ever even thinking of abandoning national duty in favour of the IPL.
According to the left-handed batsman/wicketkeeper, the pacer Malinga had wanted to retire from Test cricket for a long time as he had been advised by his physiotherapists.
"His decision was not a surprise to me. He had spoken about it in January this year and looking at his long-term future for Sri Lanka, I think it's the right decision for him taken at the right time. I think this is the most sensible decision he can take
at this time,” Sangakkara revealed while talking about Malinga.
He also warned that had Malinga been forced to play Test cricket any further, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 would have lost the fastest bowler in the history of Sri Lankan cricket to his degenerative knee injury.
He feels that now the pacer will be able to prolong his career which will enable him to represent Sri Lanka at least till the next World Cup which is scheduled to be hosted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in 2015.
Former vice-skipper Mahela Jayawardene also supported Malinga’s decision to quit Test cricket and insisted that there was no controversy behind the pacer’s decision to retire from the five-day game.
Jayawardene also believed that retirement from test cricket will prolong Malinga’s cricket career in the shorter versions of the game.
The 27-year old Malinga is currently playing for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians in the ongoing season of the IPL.
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