Malinga ready to quit as Sri Lanka T20 captain

COLOMBO: Lasith Malinga said on Sunday he was ready to stand down as Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 skipper after the team´s humiliating 2-0 loss to India.

Speaking to reporters after returning from the series, the 36-year-old said Sri Lanka was just not good enough to make an impact in the shorter format.

He said Sri Lankan bowlers weren’t able to restrict their opponents while the batsmen were incapable of putting up the 170 runs needed for a fighting chance in a match.

“We don’t have that,” Malinga said, adding that it was unfair to expect a winning performance from the team given they were ranked just ninth in the world when he returned to the captaincy just over a year ago.

He added that he was ready to accept responsibility for the team´s performance. “I am ready any time. I am ready to quit,” he said.

Malinga led Sri Lanka to the T20 World Cup title in 2014 and remained in charge until early 2016. His return in December 2018 was a surprise as he had lost his spot in the team after recurring injuries forced him to sit out several tournaments.

The first match in Guwahati was abandoned after rain, but India won the second by India by seven wickets and the third by 78 runs.