Lasith Malinga announced his ODI retirement, bidding adieu to his 15-year long ODI career.
He made his ODI debut in 2004 and will play his last ODI in the first match out of the three against Bangladesh in Colombo, starting 26 August.
The 35-year-old fast bowler announced his decision before Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne confirmed the news in a press conference.
The Sri Lankan Cricket board confirmed Malinga’s ODI retirement news on their Twitter account.
Lasith Malinga will play his last ODI, when Sri Lanka meets Bangladesh at the RPICS, Colombo on the 26th July, 2019 to play the 01st ODI of the 3 match series.
READ: https://t.co/mGMXfwfD6M
TICKETS: https://t.co/QmrvnsdtSC#ThankYouMalinga pic.twitter.com/XBFL9f7pbm— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) July 23, 2019
As soon as this news broke out, International Cricket Council (ICC) paid their homage to Malinga.
It's official.
Lasith Malinga will retire from ODI cricket after Sri Lanka's game against Bangladesh in Colombo this Friday.
A great of ODI cricket 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/qODwoQMHZe
— ICC (@ICC) July 23, 2019
On the official Instagram page of ICC, they recalled Malinga’s memorable spell in the 2007 edition of the World Cup, in a super-eight game against South Africa. Till date, Malinga is the only bowler to take four wickets in four balls in a World Cup game, dismissing Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini.
Malinga has achieved an incredible feat and etched his name in the record book of ODI cricket. He has represented Sri Lanka in four World Cup tournaments. Malinga played 225 ODIs for Sri Lanka with an average of 29.02, with eight ‘five-wicket hauls’ and an astonishing three hat-tricks under his belt. He has taken 335 wickets till date putting him third in the list of most ODI wickets for Sri Lanka and 10 in the overall list.
In a video posted on his wife’s Facebook account, Malinga has invited his fans to turn up at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for his farewell ODI match.
Lasith Malinga invited fans to turn up at the stadium for his farewell ODI match. #LKA #SriLanka #SLvBANhttps://t.co/VjCaR1QjuU
— Island Cricket (@IslandCricket) July 23, 2019
