Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL), after Mumbai Indians’ medical team declared him unfit for at least another four months, espncricinfo.com reported.

The injury to the left knee is also likely to keep Malinga out of Sri Lanka’s forthcoming tour of England, as well as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL T20).

Malinga returned to Sri Lanka after undergoing medical tests in Mumbai. According to the report, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) doctors will now assess Malinga to determine whether he needs surgery or not.

“Mr. Malinga will present himself before the SLC panel of expert doctors on Wednesday (April 20) and depending on the outcome of the said medical examinations, be required to face a match fitness grading, after which SLC will take the next appropriate steps,” a release from the board said.

Mumbai Indians have not yet made a statement either on Malinga’s injury or about a replacement. However, Mumbai coach Ricky Ponting had earlier said they had a couple of back-up options in fast bowlers Tim Southee and Marchant de Lange. Mumbai included Southee in their last two games, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Lions (GL).

Malinga picked up the injury during home series against West Indies’ tour last November, and has struggled to regain fitness since then. He has missed several recovery dates, and played only one competitive match in the past five months – against UAE in the Asia Cup.

Malinga also stepped down from the T20 captaincy over fitness concerns. He aggravated the injury while warming up for the match against Afghanistan during the World T20 and flew home early.

-Agencies