Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who has not yet recovered fully from his left knee injury, is in doubt to play his side's opening World T20 match against Afghanistan on Thursday.
Describing his injury as a 'bone bruise', the former T20 skipper said that he would practice ahead of the clash and that he would go ahead with the first match only if his knee was able to take up the pressure.
"This is a bone injury that cannot be operated or treated medically. I am having only some injections [not pain killers] to make it heal. The only remedy for it is rest. I will practice in the next few days with the team and see how my knee is taking up the pressure. If I don't feel any pain I will play in the opening match, but if not it is a decision for the selectors to make," the 32-year-old was quoted as saying by a cricket website.
Malinga, who made a comeback in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, had not played for his side since November last year due to the injury.
Malinga's fitness issue also led to a change in the leadership and Angelo Mathews, who captains Sri Lanka in ODIs and Tests, was appointed as the skipper for the World T20.
Malinga has been the most successful bowler in the T20 format's pinnacle event, bagging 38 wickets from 31 matches he had played.
Earlier, Malinga had also hinted that he might call curtains on his illustrious international career at the end of the prestigious tournament.
Sri Lanka will play their opening World T20 match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
