Malinga in hot water over ‘monkey’ comment
Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga faced an investigation Thursday after he compared a government minister to a monkey following criticism that the country’s cricketers were too fat.
Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said he ordered an inquiry after Malinga lambasted him for questioning the endurance of Sri Lankan players following their failure to reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
“He is now under investigation for making statements to the media in breach of his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket (board),” Jayasekera told AFP.
“In my criticism of the appalling fitness levels of our players, I did not name Malinga, but he has chosen to put the hat on and attack me publicly.”
Malinga told a television network the minister knew nothing about cricket.
“I don’t care about criticism from those who are simply warming chairs,” he said. “What does a monkey know about a parrot’s nesting hollow? This is like a monkey getting into a parrot’s nest and talking about it.”
Jayasekera said some Sri Lankan players had pot bellies that stopped them moving and that often they could not hold catches.
Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was twice dropped in his side’s Champions Trophy win over Sri Lanka. Both catches were off the bowling of Malinga, who ended up with just one wicket for 52 runs.
Jayasekera said he ordered a fitness test on the team after their return from England last week and found that most of them carry too much fat.
“The typical body fat amounts for a cricketer should be about 16 percent, but most of our players have over 25 percent,” Jayasekera said.
“I want the results analysed and in future no one will be included in a national squad if they are above 16 percent.”
Malinga, 33, was a surprise choice for the Sri Lanka squad as he has played little international cricket in the previous 18 months because of injury.
Just prior to the Champions Trophy, however, Malinga won the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) title with the Mumbai Indians.
Malinga was the only player excused from Sri Lanka’s high altitude training camp before the Champions Trophy, because of the IPL campaign.
“They improve their fitness level just to bowl four overs at the IPL,” Jayasekera said, referring to Malinga. “These guys are not interested in playing for the country, they play for the IPL because of the money they get.”
Jayasekera said he was also making fitness a key requirement for other sports before an athlete can participate in overseas tournaments.
(AFP)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- CEB proposes no change to electricity tariffs for six months December 7, 2024
- Lohan Ratwatte re-arrested after road accident December 6, 2024
- Sri Lanka’s interim budget approved without a vote December 6, 2024
- First visually impaired MP delivers maiden speech in Sri Lankan Parliament December 6, 2024
- INSS explores leveraging Sri Lanka’s strategic location for economic security December 6, 2024
Monkey (a prime mate) is a Nobel animal. Yes, Malinga has insulted Monkeys by comparing them the Govt Ministers.
Dayasiri is intellectually bankrupt like he rst of his collegues for not being able to undersatnd a parable and a unique in that is something original. Maling is great in that it struck a vital chord in dayasiris ministerila armour and it is time that he should forsake his ministerial portfolio. He has done noting in particular for sport in general. he should go through a process of self recrimination to find out his role as an ordinary `bulath hapaya’ and then as a sportsman and then as a specialist and figure out as to where he ought to fit in.
Malinga was selected to lead and no more and he has dove an excellent job in and out of field!and iam and he should be proud of it, Maling’s record as a cricketer will be remembered longer than dayasiri as a minister
He! He! Which one Malinga was referring to?