Bowling great Malinga announces ODI retirement

Sri Lankan bowling great Lasith Malinga has announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket after he plays the first game of the three-match series against Bangladesh scheduled to be held in Colombo on July 26.

"He is going to play the first match. After that he is retiring. That's what he said to me. I don't know what he said for the selectors but for me he said he is playing only one match," said Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne.

Malinga, who is hailed as one of the best fast bowlers of his generation, earned worldwide accolade for his pin point yorkers and unique slingy bowling style, which is sort of a custom in Sri Lankan cricket.

With 335 wickets to his tally, Malinga is already the third highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in 50-overs cricket, sitting behind only Chaminda Vaas 399 and the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan 523. Overall Malinga is the tenth highest wicket taker in ODI cricket, and needs only three more wickets to overtake Anil Kumble’s 337 wickets haul.

The speedster announced his retirement from Test cricket back in 2011.