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29 March 2024

Malinga bounces back to calm angry Sri Lanka fans

New Zealand 's Tom Latham is dismissed by Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga during the second one-day international at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on November 4, 2012. (AFP)

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By Staff

Lasith Malinga has reignited the flaming controversy regarding his loyalty to the Mumbai Indians than for his country by dwelling on his past achievments for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's pace bowling spearhead has come under intense criticism from sections of the local media and fans angered by his constant failures particularly against Indian opposition.

His performance during the World Twenty20 final held in Colombo was the subject of ridicule after being belted around the R Premadasa Stadium by Marlon Samuels of West Indies who beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs.

Elevated since as Twenty20 vice-captain, Malinga bounced back on Monday with a man-of-the-match display of 2-39 against New Zealand in the second one-day international in Pallekelle which Sri Lanka won by Duckworth-Lewis method.

Hitting back at critics he performs better when playing in the IPL (Indian Premier League) because of the riches it brings, Malinga attempted to set the record straight.

"Some people look at me in a bad light and say those things, but I don't think you can look at the wickets I've taken for Sri Lanka and be justified in saying that," Malinga said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo, when asked what he thought of the recent criticism that suggests he was motivated by money.
 
"They say I only play well for money, but I've set four world records playing for my country."
 
The 29-year-old is the only bowler to have taken four wickets in four consecutive deliveries, the only bowler with three ODI hattricks and the only bowler in the history of the game with two World Cup hattricks.
 
"If I was just playing for money, I should have achieved those things in the IPL," Malinga reminded his critics.
 
"I've taken three hat-tricks for Sri Lanka. All those things I've done playing for Sri Lanka. I have taken 200 ODI wickets for Sri Lanka, and I'm the fastest Sri Lankan to have reached that milestone. In 30 Tests, I have taken 101 wickets. There again, I am the fastest Sri Lankan.

"If those people look at what I have done properly, they will be able to see what my motivation has been."

However, at a time when Sri Lanka Cricket is acting as a surrogate of the Board of Control for Cricket in India by rescheduling the South Africa Test series to 2015 because it clashes with IPL Season Six, Malinga's comments seem ill-timed.
 
Malinga was retained by Mumbai this year ahead of the IPL auction.