No Lasith Malinga for Middlesex in 2012 Flt20 tournament – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan fast bowler, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540, has pulled out of a deal with English County Middlesex to play in this year's Friends Life T20 tournament, citing injury concerns.
The 28-year-old right-arm slinger from Galle, who has recently returned after a hectic eight-week long Indian Premier League stint with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians, had signed a deal with the Panthers earlier this month committing to play the
last seven of their ten Flt20 games this season. But the Islander withdrew from his deal with the county in order to make himself available for national assignments.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in June and July respectively, before the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League, scheduled to be held in August. The SLPL will be followed by the fourth World T20 Championship, that too to
be staged in Sri Lanka in September this year.
Malinga, who picked up 22 wickets in the recently concluded fifth edition of the lucrative Indian Premier League, is complaining of soreness in his back and knee and wants to rest his injury prone body ahead of a hectic season.
"I was really looking forward to playing a few T20 games for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817 this summer, but playing for Sri Lanka remains my top priority and I have to make sure I am in peak condition for upcoming tours and the World T20 later this year,”
said Slinga Malinga while talking to media reporters on Monday.
“I don't want to take any risks and feel I need to make use of the full five-week break after the Pakistan ODI series to rest and build-up my fitness," he added further.
Middlesex's managing director of cricket, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Angus-Robert-Charles-Fraser-c44701, expressed sheer disappointment over Malinga’s withdrawal.
"I totally understand Lasith's concerns - his workload is high - but am disappointed we are the side to be denied of his services,” said Fraser adding that the presence of the yorker specialist would have strengthened their bowling
attack.
Fraser said that though signing an overseas player is a lengthy process, the Middlesex management is doing its absolute best to secure the services of another high quality international cricketer.
Malinga has so far played 142 T20 matches claiming 191 wickets.
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