Legendary white-ball bowler Malinga shares words of wisdom with Chameera via YouTube Live

Lasith Malinga and Dushmantha Chameera 

during the live chat show

Sri Lanka’s legendary white-ball fast-bowler Lasith Malinga has encouraged the fast-improving Dushmantha Chameera to grab the opportunities that come his way and to try and play as much franchise T20 cricket as possible.

Chameera has, in the past few months, recovered from a spate of injuries to become the leading strike bowler for Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket in both formats ODIs and T20Is and Malinga sees him playing a decisive role in the next three ICC World Cup tournaments – T20 World Cups in 2021 (in UAE, Oman) and 2022 (Australia), and the 50-over World Cup in 2023 (India).

The 29-year-old right-arm fast-bowler has improved in leaps and bounds over the last few months that he is currently ranked 20th in T20I rising 21 places, and a career-best 34th in ODIs, rising 26 places.

Chameera, along with leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, has been selected to represent Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second leg of the IPL matches that is to be played in the UAE from 19 September-15 October. The IPL went into forced suspension midway during the tournament in May due to the COVID-19 outbreak and is now set to resume next month at three venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Malinga told Chameera in a live chat on YouTube that there is a lot to be learnt playing against some of the best cricketers in the world and there is no substitute for it.

“I played 13 years of IPL cricket and I know that you were with Rajasthan Royals one time, but some don’t remember because you didn’t get so many opportunities to play for them. Now that you have been selected to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore, I hope it is good for you to go and take part,” said the 37-year-old quick, who has not played for his country since March 2020.

“The reason why I am saying that is what I have learnt from the IPL is, if we win a match, we know how we won it and the confidence that we gain out of that win. But if we make a mistake, we learn from it as well. Some people may say that if you go and play franchise cricket other countries may come to learn the tricks of your trade. 

“They said the same thing to me. Because I played so much IPL cricket in India, the Indian batsmen were able to play my bowling quite easily, but what you must keep in mind is that world cricket is not only about India, there are eight other nations also playing Test cricket,” said Malinga.

“Even if you fail against one country and if you perform well against the other seven nations, that is what is expected from a cricketer. So, I am hoping from the opportunity that you have got, that you will be able to go and learn some good things, the reason being the IPL is a tournament where the world’s best cricketers participate.”

Speaking further Malinga said: “I remember during the 2014 T20 World Cup which we won, I suddenly brought to the game the wide yorker. No one had until then bowled that delivery in world cricket. It is something that I learnt from playing in the IPL. In the 2011 World Cup final against India after playing in the IPL I took the first two wickets, that of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. If I had not taken their wickets some would have said that I couldn’t dismiss them because I have been playing in the IPL, but no one said that I was able to get their wickets because of my experience of playing in the IPL against them.”

“I am advising you like it happened to me you will also face situations like that. You must be prepared to take every opportunity you get to study how other countries are playing and learn from the experience and improve your skills to become a match winning bowler for your country. Whatever chances you get to play franchise cricket use it to improve your stature as a bowler.”

“There are times when you have to experience playing under lights in front of crowds of upto over 60,000. How you overcome the pressures and how you react to such situations is extremely important. When you play for your country you make your own game plans and try to become a match winning bowler. You take this opportunity that has come your way because you are not forsaking playing for your country by playing franchise cricket. So whilst playing for your country and, if you don’t have any other national commitments, I feel it is good for your future that you go and play franchise cricket and improve your skills as a bowler.”

Chameera whilst thanking Malinga for the valuable piece of advice said that to play in the IPL was one of his main ambitions. “That kind of opportunity doesn’t come for every cricketer, only a few get it. We are playing matches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah which are venues for the T20 World Cup as well. We can also learn the strong and weak points of the batsmen.”

When questioned by Malinga whom he has modeled himself as a fast bowler Chameera replied, “There are two bowlers whom I had wanted to emulate. First, it was Australian fast bowler Brett Lee at the start of my career. In later years I have been watching the bowling of South African Dale Steyn, these are two fast bowlers I have followed very closely in my career.” 

(ST)