<p>Veteran Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga is likely to be unavailable for the first few games of Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL due to personal reasons.</p>.<p>According to a report in <a href="https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/29709108/ipl-2020-lasith-malinga-set-miss-initial-games-mumbai-indians" target="_blank">ESPNcricinfo</a>, the 36-year-old Malinga will not be travelling to the UAE, where the cash-rich league will be played from September 19 to November 10, as his father has not been keeping well for some time and may require surgery in the coming weeks.</p>.<p>The seasoned fast bowler, who has produced match-winning efforts for both Sri Lanka and his IPL franchise, wants to be around his father while training in Colombo.</p>.<p>Malinga, who will turn 37 next week, last featured for Sri Lanka in a T20 International during the home series against West Indies in March this year, with his last ODI appearance coming more than a year ago.</p>.<p>Dogged by frequent knee injuries in recent times, the cricketer with a unique slinging action did not attend the residential conditioning camps that Sri Lanka Cricket organised in June and July.</p>.<p>Handed the ball for the final over of last year's IPL title clash against Chennai Super Kings, Malinga defended eight runs to help Mumbai Indians register a record fourth triumph in the event.</p>.<p>Malinga, who captained the Sri Lankan T20 World Cup winning side in 2014, has so far taken 170 wickets in 122 IPL matches at a fine average of 19.8 and an economy rate of 7.14.</p>.<p>In the franchise-based league, he has so far collected a five-for once and four-wicket hauls six times, with 5/13 being his best.</p>.<p>International travel rules in Sri Lanka are strict, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine. If Malinga were to travel from the UAE during his father’s surgery, he would have to be quarantined. This could be an influencing factor behind his decision.</p>.<p>It is believed that the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings would be facing each other for the opening match.</p>.<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>
<p>Veteran Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga is likely to be unavailable for the first few games of Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL due to personal reasons.</p>.<p>According to a report in <a href="https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/29709108/ipl-2020-lasith-malinga-set-miss-initial-games-mumbai-indians" target="_blank">ESPNcricinfo</a>, the 36-year-old Malinga will not be travelling to the UAE, where the cash-rich league will be played from September 19 to November 10, as his father has not been keeping well for some time and may require surgery in the coming weeks.</p>.<p>The seasoned fast bowler, who has produced match-winning efforts for both Sri Lanka and his IPL franchise, wants to be around his father while training in Colombo.</p>.<p>Malinga, who will turn 37 next week, last featured for Sri Lanka in a T20 International during the home series against West Indies in March this year, with his last ODI appearance coming more than a year ago.</p>.<p>Dogged by frequent knee injuries in recent times, the cricketer with a unique slinging action did not attend the residential conditioning camps that Sri Lanka Cricket organised in June and July.</p>.<p>Handed the ball for the final over of last year's IPL title clash against Chennai Super Kings, Malinga defended eight runs to help Mumbai Indians register a record fourth triumph in the event.</p>.<p>Malinga, who captained the Sri Lankan T20 World Cup winning side in 2014, has so far taken 170 wickets in 122 IPL matches at a fine average of 19.8 and an economy rate of 7.14.</p>.<p>In the franchise-based league, he has so far collected a five-for once and four-wicket hauls six times, with 5/13 being his best.</p>.<p>International travel rules in Sri Lanka are strict, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine. If Malinga were to travel from the UAE during his father’s surgery, he would have to be quarantined. This could be an influencing factor behind his decision.</p>.<p>It is believed that the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings would be facing each other for the opening match.</p>.<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>
