Ultimatum by SLC, Malinga may fly back home in the middle of IPL

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) selectors are reportedly upset with pacer Lasith Malinga for apparently wasting his time as bowling mentor of Indian Premier League (IPL) side Mumbai Indians and issued the 34-year-old an ultimatum to return home to play domestic cricket if he intended to be recalled to the national side.

Mumbai Indians may lose the services of Lasith Malinga after the Sri Lankan Board (SLC) gave an ultimatum to the fast bowler to come back and play domestic cricket instead of wasting his time in the IPL.

Lasith Malinga last played for the Islanders more than seven months ago in the home series against India and since then have been out of action.

Malinga was named for Sri Lanka's domestic Inter-Provincial one-day tournament but prior to the announcement of the squads, which gets underway on Wednesday, he posted a video message declining to play any domestic cricket until the IPL was over. 

He is currently with the Mumbai Indians squad as a bowling mentor after the franchise decided to against retaining him and he subsequently unsold in the auctions.

In the video he had mentioned that he was ready to make an international comeback during the home series against South Africa in July.

"The selectors will have to make a call in case Lasith doesn't play any domestic cricket," SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala was quoted as saying by cricbuzz on Tuesday.

"I do believe that we can make use of him for T20 Internationals. We wouldn't have had any problem had he been playing matches at the IPL, but the issue is that he is on the bench," remarked Sumathipala.

SLC CEO Ashley de Silva warned Malinga that his refusal to play in the domestic tournament may shut the door on his international selection.

"We have informed Lasith that he has been selected. If he doesn't play the Inter-Provincial tournament, it is unlikely that the selectors will consider him," de Silva said.

Since his return from injury, the fast bowler has taken just 10 wickets in 13 ODIs.

South Africa will play five ODIs and a T20 International during their five-week tour of Sri Lanka that kicks off with a two-match Test series.