Sri Lanka reluctant to give Lasith Malinga NOC for Indian Premier League

Colombo: 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. The Board administration had asked Malinga to leave the captaincy before the World T20 last month in obvious annoyance. Although Malinga made it to Sri Lanka World T20 team as a player, he once again opted out of the crucial tournament, citing fitness issues. As a result, Sri Lanka was forced to play the tournament without their main bowler, which turned out to be one of the main reasons for the defending champions ouster from the World T20 in the first round itself.