Lasith Malinga of Mumbai Indians pulls out of IPL in UAE

Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga has pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) “to be with his family,” his team Mumbai Indians said.

Malinga joins a growing list of players abandoning the coronavirus-hit Twenty20 cricket tournament.

The much-delayed IPL has been moved to the UAE because of the spread of the coronavirus in India and is scheduled to start on Sept. 19.

Malinga has asked to be let go for personal reasons, the Mumbai Indians said in a report carried by AFP.

Malinga would be replaced by Australian quick James Pattinson, Mumbai Indians said.