MRI SCAN ON MALINGA TO DETERMINE STATE OF INJURY

Sri Lanka Cricket’s doctors will perform an MRI scan soon to determine whether the world’s feared T20 bowler Lasith Malinga could return to cricket earlier than expected.

Malinga has only played one competitive game since sustaining an injury during West Indies’ tour of Sri Lanka last November. He was seen practicing with the national team during the latter part of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka and told reporters he’s fully fit and ready to join the national squad to play the two-match T20 leg of the concluded Australian series.

However, the SLC doctors believe the former Sri Lanka T20 captain must go through a medical assessment to decide the exact state of his injury.

“We will be calling him for a medical assessment soon and will perform an MRI scan to determine the exact state of his injury,” said Prof. Arjuna de Silva. In April, SLC doctors confirmed a ‘substantial injury’ to Lasith Malinga’s left knee and advised prolonged rest and periodic reassessment.

“It’s not advisable to rush him at this point of time. However, for now, it appears he will be ready for the limited over leg of the South African series later this year,” he said.

Malinga was not recommended a surgery and has been undergoing physiotherapy and strengthening during the rehabilitation process. He had a similar injury in his right knee in 2009 which forced Malinga’s retirement from Test cricket at the age of 27. Meanwhile, Prof. de Silva also said that two injured seamers, Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad will not be available for the next month’s Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe. Chameera who suffered a stress fracture in England in May is in the process of recovery and will only be available for the South African series. Prasad, one of the key weapons in Sri Lanka’s seam attack has been advised surgery. Prasad suffered a shoulder strain in England in May.

“Dhammika has to go through a surgery as he has suffered substantial damage to his shoulder. So he will be out for a few more months. But Chameera has shown steady improvement and could resume bowling very soon,’’ Prof. de Silva explained. Promising spinner Jeffery Vandersay who missed both the England and Australia series due to a broken finger has recovered and according to doctors, will be available for selection for the Zimbabwe tour.

The 26-year-old right-arm leg-spinner broke into international cricket last year and has played in 3 ODI’S and 7 T20’s. He is yet to play in a Test.