Sri Lanka veteran Lasith Malinga to retire from ODI cricket after first match of Bangladesh series

Malinga was named in the 22-man Sri Lanka squad for the three-match series, but captain Dimuth Karunaratne confirmed the 35-year-old would only participate in the first ODI on July 26

Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga will retire from ODI cricket after the first game of their three-match series against Bangladesh this month.

The 35-year-old was named in Sri Lanka's 22-man squad for the matches at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

However, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne confirmed at the team's press conference in the capital that Malinga will only play the first match on Friday, July 26.

"He is going to play the first match," Karunaratne said.

"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."

Malinga will therefore leave the side as the country's third-highest wicket taker in 50-over international cricket, with only Muttiah Muralitharan (523) and Chaminda Vaas (399) having taken more scalps than him in ODIs for Sri Lanka.

The slingy paceman was also Sri Lanka's highest wicket-taker at the recently concluded World Cup, claiming 13 wickets in seven innings.

Malinga retired from Test cricket in 2011 but continued to remain available in other formats since then.

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