I don't know how many months or years are left in me: Lasith Malinga

SRI LANKAN PACER LASITH MALINGA once again proved his match-winning ability yesterday by helping his side defend a meager total against UAE in the Asia Cup T20 in Mirpur. 

The Lankan skipper who returned to international cricket after a long injury lay-off got back into his wicket-taking mould right from ball one. Malinga’s variations and brilliance was too hot to handle for the UAE batsmen as the quickie picked up four wickets for the match. 

However, Malinga’s career has been marred with frequent injuries over the years and his current knee injury has given him a nightmarish time lately. Malinga added that the injury is so serious that it could take almost two full years for it to heal completely and also declared that he might not be able to carry on playing the game for long. 

"I have played 12 years for the national team. I am now 32 and will soon be 33. I have had a bad injury and if at this stage I have to take one or one and half years of rest, I would rather have to finish my career. If I need to play tough cricket for my country, I don't think I can then totally recover from the injury. That's why I am saying I don't know how many months or years are left in me. Whatever little I play, I want to serve the national team and my IPL team (Mumbai Indians) well.”

However, the 32-year-old added that he will give everything it takes to help his country defend the World T20 title. 

"This is not the right time to rest. We have the T20 World Cup and I am the most experienced bowler for Sri Lanka in this format. Whatever painkillers and injections that needs to be used, I will use as this is the end of my career. If I can do something for the team, I will do in these last few months may be. I am still only 60-70 per cent of where I want to be. But I am happy with the result against UAE though.”