Miffed with Lasith Malinga's attitude of picking and choosing tournaments, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is reluctant to give the fast bowler 'No Objection Certificate' to play for the Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League. SLC chief Tilanga Sumathipala said that the current status of Malinga's fitness needs to be assessed before the Board decides to give him the NOC. "He can't go without our permission. If he defies us and go, he can only return after sitting on the bench," Sumathipala said. Malinga and the new SLC hierarchy have been at a standoff since the Asia Cup T20 in February.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) accused former selection committee chief Kapila Wijegoonawardena of hurting the morale of the national team ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 campaign by making "inaccurate and misleading" statements in the media. "Mr Wijegoonawardne's statements are inaccurate, misleading, and defamatory, and furthermore are of the nature to cause grevious injury to the moral of the Sri Lanka cricket team, currently intent on bringing home the ICC World Twenty 20," a statement from SLC read. Wijegoonawardena was fired by the Sports Minister last week and was replaced by former batsman Aravinda de Silva. In a statement later, Wijegoonawardena accused that he was victim of politics and a selection committee would not be required in future as politicians would be handpicking the team. He alleged that the decision to remove Lasith Malinga as captain and the team for the ongoing World T20 had been discussed at a team hotel room during the Asia Cup held in Bangladesh.
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