23 May CSK skipper MS Dhoni advised star CSK pacer Matheesha Pathirana, Malinga Disagrees, Vaas supports
CSK skipper MS Dhoni advised star CSK pacer Matheesha Pathirana about his future in cricket.
“People who don’t have any clean action, batters have a difficult time picking it. But his consistency, pace makes him special,” Dhoni had earlier said after their match against Mumbai Indians. “I feel he should not play red-ball cricket, not even get close to it, he can play only ICC tournaments. He is young and he would be a great asset for Sri Lankan cricket. Last time he came, he was lean but now he has put on muscle and is stronger,” he further added.
But former Sri Lankan Legend Lasith Malinga slammed Dhoni’s assessment.
“I think anyone who tells him (Pathirana) not to play red-ball cricket is doing that because they think he will get injured. I played red-ball cricket first. No one said anything like that to me. I played red-ball cricket between 2004 to 2010, but I had a 16-year international career, and I played a lot of IPL, plus Big Bash and all the other leagues,” Malinga told ESPN Cricinfo.
“In all that time, I never left the field after injuring a hamstring, or a groin, or my back, or my calf. Maybe a lot of people will oppose me, but I don’t think we should just presume that he will get injured. I’ve played cricket this way and bowled like him, so I know what the challenges are,” he added.
While another Sri Lankan legend Chaminda Vaas supported MS.
“I was working for Sri Lanka Cricket one year back and I mentioned the same thing to them. A person like Mathi should be preserved. If he played all the formats he would not survive because of the way he bowls. He doesn’t have an easy action, a unique action which is very strenuous. So fitness will come into the picture. Bowling four overs is OK, if you bowl more than that then the problem will arise like Dhoni said. I totally agree,” Vaas, told Gulf News from Sri Lanka.
No Comments