It is indeed perplexing that the Sri Lankan Cricket Board(SLCB) has not offered an annual contract to the star pace bowler Lasith Malinga as the rest of the country’s top players signed their contracts recently and explanations towards this seem tatty and unclear as SLCB sources appear to suddenly show an apathetic indifference towards one of Sri Lanka’s finest prospects whose bowling feat of 4 wickets in four balls at the last world cup, almost getting a 5th in five to have been sidelined for no real fault of his own unless there is more to the story than meets the common eye. 
If it is a persistent leg injury for which he has been treated recently or a lack of form which invariably follows due to inactivity in a very rational sense, given the calibre of Malinga and what he has accomplished thus far it is the responsibility of the SLCB Authorities to help nurture this wonderful young prospect back to the form which made him famous and help him get back into top gear if there is any indifference on their part towards the task on the basis that there are other players to worry about as this is rank apathy if such be the case.
While the latest reports circulating in the media seem to indicate that Lasith Malinga who is known around the cricketing world for his unusual bowling action as well as his flamboyant hairstyles has been omitted from the list of contracted players for the next season for unknown reasons, it isnt good enough an excuse and it would be only fair to Malinga and the millions of fans around the globe who admire and genuinely like this youngster for his unassuming and humble personality in addition to his sensational bowling prowess as a speedster and strike bowler to come up with the real story behind his ommision and rectify it towards inclusion in the Sri Lankan Squad for future games if he meets the requisite conditions of fitness while giving him all the support needed towards regaining his confidence rather than demoralize him over petty issues where disciplinary action has been also hinted at.
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Somewhat curiously some reports about Malinga whilst suggesting plausibly that the match-winning fiery paceman had been sidelined in recent months due to a nagging leg injury for which he has been treated succesfully have also hinted that there are alleged disciplinary reasons for which he has been overlooked for contracting as a player and if this be the case let it be known to the cricketing world what the fuss is all about?
Quoting a recent News report ” it is unprecedented for a top level player to be omitted from an annual contract due to a short term injury and it was only last year that the youngster from Galle created history at the World Cup in the West Indies capturing four South African wickets in four balls to grab the world attention and become an instant hit. ” and if for some undisclosed reason Malinga has fallen into the bad books of the authorities it is only fair that it be fully investigated and the matter settled
in all fairness to him so that he can get on with his career which is very promising not only for himself but also Sri Lankan Cricket where there is a dearth of bowlers of his ability to intimidate batsmen with his sheer speed and accuracy!
If Malinga’s dilemmas of non selection and being overlooked towards a renewed contract is a direct result of the petty bureaucracies and bourgeoisies of the SLCB which sometimes surface embarrasingly enough to the more discerning and are sometimes initiated through whimsical politicians et al and tend to victimise players and even incarcerate them for no real reason other than their outspokenness and personal convictions on various issues leading to personality clashes beyond the cause of brilliant performance skills as in the case of Malinga, the the SLCB should hang its head in shame especially over the manner one of Sri Lankas finest new finds is being currently treated! With an indifference unworthy of the man’s skills, nature and demeanour by lopsided misjudgement perhaps!
If it is the lack of form and anticipated performance capabilities consequent to injury that has prompted the SLCB Authorities towards their course of actions there still remains a huge onus and responsibility on their part to have the matter set right in the fairest and most just manner towards boosting Malinga’s confidence rather than demoralizing him and consequently destroying the career of one Sri Lanka’s finest which is bound to happen!
By Sunny
Photo: Getty Images