The Lanka Premier League (LPL 2020) is facing several blows. As many players of the different franchises have started refraining themselves from the inaugural T20 league. The LPL 2020, which is starting on 26th November. Will wind up its matches by 16th November that are to be played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota.
Lasith Malinga, the national icon player of the Galle Gladiators, is no more a part of them. As per his statements. It has been concluded that the player has not been included in cricketing activities since West Indies vs Sri Lanka in early 2020. Hence, he defines insufficient time as a reason to get fit and practice before stepping into the big tournament.
Lasith Malinga pulls out of Lanka Premier League
“Since the West Indies series early this year, I haven’t had any cricket, and there hasn’t been any training for me at all.” Malinga, who had opted out of the recently-concluded IPL in the UAE citing personal reasons, told ESPNcricinfo.
“When the draft happened last month, I thought there would be about three weeks of training before the LPL, but there has been nothing. They are only having us come to Hambantota this week, and even there they are asking us to do three days of quarantine.
“It’s not easy for a bowler to play at a high level without training. At the LPL they also have matches on back-to-back days. So I decided not to play in the tournament.”
Notably, other than Malinga, Sarfaraz Ahmed of Gladiators has also refrained. He was to captain the side that is owned by Pakistan’s Quetta Gladiators. On the other hand. The other players from different franchises are also excluding themselves as the recent examples mark Liam Plunkett and Chris Gayle of Kandy Tuskers.
