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Lasith Malinga still nurses wounds of injustice

Lasith Malinga as we know him is the lad from Ratgama, a suburb of Galle, who made it to the elite league by dint of hard work. He hailed from Devapathiraja MV and Mahinda College, Galle.

He was not a big name in school cricket there. He did not play for his schools. He was spotted by former Sri Lankan pacie Champaka Ramanayake while playing softball cricket and brought down to Colombo.

Malinga's astronomical rise in international cricket is grist for the cricket story books. Not only has he captured the hearts and minds of cricket lovers in Sri Lanka and world over, his charismatic personality were a star attraction that added glamour to the game.

During the Sri Lankan tour of the West Indies I bore witness to the manner in which the crowds would be awe struck by Malinga's feats. Not to forget that he became the sweetheart of the damsels over there!...

He did when Amisha Patel the bollywood actress during the World Cup in India. But Malinga had one focus and that was cricket, and only cricket.

He made it through with sweat and toil - and with tears too.

This is the sad twist to the story of Malinga. Here was a village lad trying to make it to the big league. Indeed by his own determination, inherent skill and talent he made it. But that journey would have been much pleasanter and much easier if he had not been subjected to the mental agony that he underwent as he was deprived of a contract.

This torture was inflicted we understand from our sources, by the likes of Arjuna Ranatunga whose machinations deprived Malinga of a contract - a contact that would have also made his medical treatment and everything that goes with it sustainable.

When he was nursing an injury to his knee, unable to climb even a flight of stairs and pondering his future in the game in 2008, he was deprived of the contract. That was his livelihood. Depriving one of this means has not only affected the well-being of Malinga but now exposes the morally evil nature of his superior who now preaches from the hill top and makes bold to challenge the very leadership of our country under whose patronage cricket has been given pride of place.

Justifiable reasons

The other day at a media briefing where he gave justifiable reasons for quitting Test cricket, he was almost in tears when speaking about the contract that was not given to him.

But it is to the credit and resilience of Malinga that he has weathered the storm and endured the damage that has been caused. It is also to his credit that he is gracious not to name names but suffer in silence and emerge as one of the "glamour lads" world of cricket.

There is no doubt that Malinga is god's gift to the game. He has made the country proud with his rare style of bowling, with the toe crushing Yorkers which have been the nemesis of the best of batsmen.

Now that Malinga has decided to quit Test cricket and concentrate on the limited over game, he should be nurtured and nursed carefully and given all the encouragement to ply his trade and bring honour to the country.

No walk in the park

The upcoming tour of England by the Sri Lankan cricketers is not going to be walk in the park. At the time of writing there is still a bit of uncertainty as to when all the players figuring in the IPL in India will return.

However, Sri Lanka will not have the full team out against Middlesex at Uxbridge in the first warm up game from May 14 to 16. But indications are that the full team will be available to be picked against the England Lions at Derbyshire from May 19 to 22.

With this more important tour of England inked in the Future Tours Program many moons ago, it is inexplicable that arrangements were not made by the Sri Lanka Cricket and the Indian Board to have the Lankan players figuring in the IPL to be available for England from the first match.

As the saying goes there is no use of crying over spilt milk, but to make do and see that when Test match playing time against England comes around that the team will be raring to go to win their first Test series in Old Blighty.

Good touch

All the Lankan cricketers playing in the IPL are showing good touch and form in their respective fields. But the only worry is that the climate in which they are playing now will be so much different in England.

But being professionals and having been in the cauldron for long should have no difficulty in acclimatizing to English conditions and maintaining their form that they are showing in the IPL.

New Sri Lanka Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan seems to be a man that the game needs at this juncture courage, determination and fire in the belly. Playing for Royal Challengers and playing his usual exciting style, he has volunteered to be back in time and accompany the rest of his troops to England on May 10.

The Royal Challengers for which franchise Dilshan is playing would sure have understood the responsibilities that the batsman shoulders as captain and would have readily agreed to release him. Dilshan and SLC must thank RCB.

First guard

That's what is called EXAMPLE. And having watched and followed his career unfold from the time he took first guard for the country, it can be assumed that in his first fling as captain he will get the best out of his men.

Many eyebrows were raised when Dilshan was appointed captain.

Critics were citing, his erratic behaviour on tours. But that is in the past. Dilshan now has that responsibility and trust placed on him by a former captain and now Chairman of Selectors Duleep Mendis. Dilshan can surely be counted upon to play clean and straight and deliver.

A real leader shows what he is capable of when the chips are down. For example, take Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. When his team seemed to be floundering against Sri Lanka in 2011 World Cup final, he walked in and as the saying goes took the bull by the horns.

And what he did is etched in history.

Similarly that is what is expected of Dilshan? Dilshan has similar traits. He is a cricketer who believes in himself, with can do attitude and an immensely talented allround ability.

Cricket enthusiasts

Touring Sri Lankan teams often have the pleasure of meeting some of our most devoted cricket fans who make up in some notable measure the absence of crowd support. For instance when touring England one recalls two great cricket enthusiasts domiciled in England: Collin Fernando and Cassim Jaleel. Both have been in Old Blighty for well over 50 years and have never missed watching the Lankan cricketers in action when they play there.

It is not only Sri Lankan cricket that flows through their veins but the history of International cricket : they will give you the history and geography of Sri Lankan and English cricket.

Collin and Cassim are in fact walking Wisdens. This inseparable duo have already pencilled the two games that the Lankans will play the Test match at Lord's and the one-day international at the Oval and have already booked their tickets.

There will hopefully be many more of their ilk that will add support to our team.

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