IPL 2016: Lasith Malinga ruled out of tournament due to injury

Malinga suffered a bone bruise in his left knee

Lasith Malinga, who was expected to miss the first part of the IPL 2016 has now been ruled out for the entire season thanks to his injury. The bone bruise in his left knee will also rule him out of the forthcoming tour of England and the Caribbean Premier League this year.

He has returned to Sri Lanka where doctors will assess his situation to decide if he needs surgery now.

"Mr. Malinga will present himself before the SLC panel of expert doctors on Wednesday (April 20) and depending on the outcome of the said medical examinations, be required to face a match fitness grading, after which SLC will take the next appropriate steps," a release from the board said.

Malinga had got injured during their tour to West Indies last November and has struggled for fitness ever since. He has played only one match for Sri Lanka in the last five months and also missed the World T20 2016.

The bone bruise, caused due to overuse has been troubling Malinga since 2008 and forced him to retire from Tests at the early age of 27. This injury is common among Australian Rules football players and has been troubling Malinga as his unique delivery action applies extra strain on the joints of his hips and legs.

The Sri Lanka Cricket board (SLC) had earlier issued a showcause notice to Malinga for joining the Mumbai Indians without necessary medical clearance from them to feature in the IPL.

“We have no problem with Malinga travelling to Mumbai to be with his IPL team," the spokeswoman for SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala had told Agence France-Presse. “But in order to play, he must get a NOC [no objection certificate] from SLC."

“Malinga has not informed Sri Lanka Cricket of his travel to India nor his intention to play in the IPL," she said.

Malinga and the SLC have been exchanging verbal volleys ever since the board questioned his fitness and asked him to step down from captaincy ahead of the World T20 2016.

SLC selection committee chairman Aravinda de Silva had recently cast major doubts over the pacer's fitness that has left Malinga fuming in indignation. However, the SLC have now expressed a willingness to work with the fast bowler and assess his situation given how important he is to Sri Lanka's chances.

IPL franchise Mumbai Indians are yet to make an official declaration of Malinga being ruled out for this IPL season in entirety but they had earlier emphasised that they do have back-up plans if Malinga fails to feature in this edition of the IPL.

MI head-coach Ricy Ponting had earlier said “If you look at last season when we were playing our best cricket, Malinga was bowling at his best as well. He’s been one of the great performers in world cricket with the new as well as the old ball. He will be definitely missed, but we have more than adequate replacements if he’s ruled out,” he added.

Malinga had taken 24 wickets in 15 matches in last year's IPL and has been the driving force behind the Mumbai Indians' success so far. His injury will be a big blow to the franchise.