Mumbai: Defending champions Mumbai Indians on Wednesday released Sri Lankan pacer and Indian Premier League's (IPL) highest wicket-taker Lasith Malinga ahead of the upcoming season.
Malinga, who has played a staggering 122 IPL matches, has 170 wickets to his credit, the highest in the cash-rich league, with the best bowling figures of 5/13.
"MI have released seven names which include Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga, Kiwi quick Mitchell McClenaghan, Australians Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Pattinson, Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford, uncapped leg-spinner Prince Balwant Rai and fast bowler Digvijay Deshmukh from the team," the franchise said in a statement.
Mumbai Indians pacer Lasith Malinga decided to sit out of IPL 2020 due to personal reasons. Sportzpics
Photo by: Ron Gaunt /SPORTZPICS for BCCI
In the 2020 edition of the IPL, Mumbai Indians had roped in Australian speedster James Pattinson as a replacement for Malinga, who had expressed his unavailability owing to personal reasons.
MI also decided to retain the core of the team, including skipper Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, star pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, and all-rounders Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya.
As per the statement, the five-time champions now have 18 players in their squad, with seven spots open which can be filled in the mini-auction.
The franchise said "it can pick as many as four overseas players for the next season."
Players Retained:
Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Quinton De Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Chris Lynn, Anmolpreet Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Aditya Tare (wk).
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohsin Khan.
All-rounders: Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Anukul Roy.
Released: Lasith Malinga, Mitch McClenaghan, James Pattinson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sherfane Rutherford, Prince Balwant Rai, Digvijay Deshmukh.
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The BCCI is looking at four to five venues for holding the next edition of the IPL with Mumbai as a single host not looking feasible anymore following a surge in COVID-19 cases in and around the city.
The 31-year-old, who was released by Rajasthan Royals, was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2.2 crore at the IPL auctions last week.
The CM also assured that his government would make all necessary arrangements for the safety of players amid the COVID-19 pandemic.