Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2014-15: Lasith Malinga set for ODI series return

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga will play against New Zealand in the ODI series in January 2015.

Lasith Malinga set for a return to the team in the ODI series against New Zealand © Getty Images

Dec 22, 2014

Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga will return to the One-Day International (ODI) squad in the later stages of the series against New Zealand scheduled to be played in January 2015. Malinga underwent a knee surgery and therefore missed the ODI series against India and England.

This news comes as a huge boost for the island nation as Malinga has also been included in the preliminary squad for the ICC World Cup 2015. “Malinga is still recovering from surgery and everything is going well according to plan”. He will return for the last two ODI games in New Zealand”, said Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu, reports Reuters.

Sri Lanka will play two warm-up games against Zimbabwe and South Africa at the before their opening match of the World Cup against New Zealand at Christchurch on February 14. Malinga has picked up 271 wickets in 177 ODIs for Sri Lanka.