Blow for Mumbai: Injured Malinga returns home

PUNE: Team Mumbai’s worst fears came true on Friday when Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga returned home due to a recurring back injury.

‘Slinga’, nicknamed so for his sling-shot action, missed the last match against Delhi at home and his participation was in doubt as he had been ruled out for a “few weeks”.

Nishantha Ranatunga, secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, confirmed to TOI that Malinga was cooling his heels back home.

The franchise, though, remained in denial mode with a team spokesperson maintaining that the player had suffered only a back strain and was available for selection for the next match, the away game against Punjab in Mohali on Wednesday. Hence the extent of Malinga’s injury and how long he would be out of action could not be ascertained.

“The management will decide on whether to give him some more rest or stretch him,” the spokesperson said.