Sri Lanka bowler legend Lasith Malinga on Tuesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a 16-year decorated international career that began in 2004. Malinga had already ended his Test (2011) and ODI ( 2019), and by announcing his decision to move away from T20 cricket, the 38-year-old marked his retirement of all forms.
Malinga (Sri Lanka bowler) played 30 tests, 226 ODI and 84 T20I for Sri Lanka in which he selected 546 wickets (101 in tests, 338 in ODI and 107 in T20I) in all formats.
A formidable race leader known for his menacing Yorkers, Malinga is still the first turnkey in the shortest format in international cricket and the first to complete a century of scalps in T20I.
“Today is a very special day for me as I want to thank everyone who has supported and blessed me throughout my T20 career. Today I have decided to rest 100% for my T20 bowling shoes.
“I would like to thank the Sri Lanka Cricket Council and members of my team. I would like to thank the Mumbai Indian Cricket team and the team members, in particular the owners and officials, the Melbourne Stars, Kent Cricket Club, Rangpur Riders, Guyana Warriors, Maratha Arabians and Montreal Tigers.
“When I played with all of you, I gained a lot of experience. I want to share my experience in the future, with young cricketers,” Lasith Malinga said in a video posted on social media.
Considered the greatest T20 bowler of all time, Malinga was also an IPL legend and is still the most successful bowler in tournament history with 170 wickets in 122 games for the Mumbai Indians.
Malinga was the captain of the Sri Lankan T20 team to victory at the 2014 World Cup and is the only bowler to have won 4 wickets in 4 straight balls in international cricket twice. Malinga is also the only bowler to have completed 3 ODI hat tricks and two in T20I cricket.
