Picture Credit: Twitter
Sri Lanka's 2014 T20 World Cup-winning captain Lasith Malinga has announced his retirement from T20Is, which completes his retirement from all forms of the game. Malinga posted a message on his social media platform to announce the decision to hang up his boots. He even shared a video on his YouTube channel, showing a compilation of some of his memorable wickets in the shortest format of the game.
"While my shoes will rest my love for the game will never rest," Malinga, one of the greats of the game, known for his lethal yorkers, captioned the video.
Here's the official announcement by Malinga:
Among some of the right-arm fast bowler's incredible achievements is the fact that he remains the highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League to date despite missing out on the last few seasons. Amit Mishra, the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL, still is four wickets behind him. Malinga is also the record-bearer of a few unique milestones, having taken as many as five hat-tricks in international cricket. Moreover, he is the only bowler in the world to have taken four wickets off 4 back to back deliveries twice in international cricket.
Malinga’s Facebook post on Tuesday read:
"Message from Lasith Malinga
The experience that I have gained through the past 17 years will no longer be needed in the field since I have decided to retire from T20I Cricket marking my retirement from all formats of cricket.
But I will be continuously supporting the younger generations who thrives to uplift the spirit of the game and I will always be there with all who love the game.
May the triple gem bless you all!
Sri Lanka Cricket
Mumbai Indians
Melbourne Stars
Rangpur Riders
Kent Cricket
Guyana Amazon Warriors
Maratha Arabians
Montreal Tigers"
Earlier in the year, Malinga's IPL team Mumbai Indians had stated that Maling had informed them of their decision to hang his T20 cricket boots and was thus not retained in the squad this year. He last featured for Sri Lanka in March 2020, in a T20I against the West Indies. While there were reports that he could be considered for selection in the T20 World Cup, his name was not there as the team was announced for T20 World Cup last week.