Sri Lanka’s premier fast-bowler Lasith Malinga has been advised to take rest and periodic assessment to his injured left knee but currently does not require a surgery.
The Sri Lanka Cricket doctors panel after assessing him on Wednesday at a private hospital confirmed that he is suffering from a knee stress reaction due to his unique bowling style, ” Malinga is suffering from a stress reaction in the knee. This has been caused by pressure being put on the knee. There is a chance that a stress reaction could worsen to a stress fracture, at which point he would need surgery but currently it is advisable to take rest.” SLC medical committee chairman Dr. Harindu Wijesinghe said.
The medical committee comprises of Prof Arjuna de Silva, Dr Harindu Wijesinghe, Dr Kithsiri and Dr Harindu Wijesinghe. Lasith Malinga has only played one competitive game since sustaining the injury during West Indies’ tour of Sri Lanka last November. He failed to take part in the ICC World T20 and few days back was deemed unfit to play the IPL season 9 as well.
In 2009, the same injury kept Malinga out of action for almost an year and this time too, the doctors did not reveal a specific time frame for his return to competitive cricket.
“A few doctors have been advising Malinga, and we feel that he needs to rest his knee, while undergoing physiotherapy and strengthening. Only after seeing how he the injury reacts to this, will we be able to say how long he might be unavailable. It might be a number of months before we decide to scan and test him again. It’s difficult to put a time frame on his recovery.” Wijesinghe further stated.
