Legendary Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga in collaboration with Singer Sri Lanka kicked off the ‘Singer Pace Hunt with Lasith Malinga’, a national fast bowling talent search and development programme aimed at identifying and nurturing Sri Lanka’s next generation of pace bowlers.

The inaugural selection session of the programme was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, drawing an enthusiastic group of young cricketers from across the island who aspire to represent Sri Lanka at the highest level. Designed for fast bowlers aged 17 to 22, the initiative seeks to identify players with potential and guide them on a structured pathway towards professional cricket.

The programme received an overwhelming response, with over 3,000 applications from young cricketers across the country. From these, 350 applicants were shortlisted to take part in the first selection phase, which required them to complete a rigorous 2km fitness and endurance run to assess their stamina and athletic ability.

Those who successfully completed the fitness assessment progressed to the next round of evaluations, where they were required to demonstrate their bowling speed by delivering balls exceeding 135 km/h. Participants who successfully met the required benchmark advanced to the next stage of the programme where they will be mentored and trained under the guidance of Lasith Malinga in the coming year.

Speaking about the initiative, Lasith Malinga said, “I started this initiative to give back to cricket in Sri Lanka for all that it has given me. I am determined to support the growth of the game and help our team continue to evolve, giving cricket in our country every chance to thrive. I would like to thank Singer Sri Lanka for stepping forward to support this initiative, as well as Sri Lanka Cricket for their continued encouragement.”

Also expressing his views, Mahesh Wijewardene, Group Managing Director of Singer Sri Lanka said, “At a time when Sri Lankan cricket is looking to rebuild and rediscover its strength, we felt it was the right moment to stand behind an initiative that nurtures the next generation of players. Just as Singer proudly supported the game during Sri Lanka’s historic triumph at the 1996 Cricket World Cup, we are pleased to partner with Lasith Malinga and contribute to the future of cricket in our country.”

Both Singer Sri Lanka and Honor have longstanding ties with cricket in the country, reflecting a deep commitment to the sport’s development. Singer has supported Sri Lanka’s cricketing ambitions for decades, including during the 1996 World Cup triumph, while Honor has expanded this legacy by sponsoring both the men’s and women’s national teams in recent years.

‘Singer Pace Hunt with Lasith Malinga’ represents the first of several talent identification camps scheduled to take place this year. At the culmination of the programme, the top 20 performers will receive the opportunity to be recommended for selections at the Sri Lanka Cricket Fast Bowling Academy, offering them a direct pathway to professional cricket. By connecting youth with professional pathways and real-match experience, the programme aims to leave a lasting impact on the country’s cricketing future and inspire aspiring athletes nationwide.

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Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga says over 3,500 have registered for his fast bowler talent search programme.

Providing an update on his programme, Malinga said the registration link has now been temporarily closed. 

He said that, however, the link will reopen on April 14, 2026, for new applicants.

Programme Details:

* From the 3,500 registrations, around 350 bowlers will be selected per stage

* The program will run across 10 stages

* The first list of 350 selected players based on provinces/districts will be announced tomorrow.

“Even if you stop, I will not stop,” Malinga added, as a message of encouragement. (Newswire)

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Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has announced a nationwide initiative to identify and nurture young fast bowling talent.

In a post on social media, Malinga said that in the first phase, opportunities will be given to 300 fast bowlers between the ages of 17 and 22. 

“The program will be conducted transparently, covering every region of the island, and is open to Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities alike,” he said. 

Malinga further said that all those striving to promote cricket through social media are also invited to witness the future of the sport.

Participants are required to bring their birth certificate, running shoes, and bowling shoes. 

“Players without bowling shoes will be provided with a pair for the occasion. Playing with a leather ball is not compulsory,” he added. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka bowling legend Lasith Malinga joined the practice sessions of the National Men’s Squad today, as the team prepares for the upcoming Zimbabwe series.

Malinga will work closely with the squad’s fast bowlers, offering tactical insights and technical expertise, until the team’s departure to Zimbabwe.

The Sri Lanka National Team is scheduled to leave for Zimbabwe on 22nd August to play a series comprising two ODIs and three T20Is. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan bowling legend Lasith Malinga has penned his first single, titled ‘Palamuwarata’ (පළමුවරට).

The song in the Sinhalese language is produced by Ravi Royster and features cricketer Lasith Malinga. 

Lasith Malinga’s song ‘Palamuwarata’ is a dedication to his wife. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka bowling legend Lasith Malinga’s son, Duvin Malinga has shown similar bowling skills during a practice session in the Mumbai Indians New York nets on the sidelines of the Major League Cricket.

According to NDTV, when Duvin Malinga started bowling in the Mumbai Indians New York nets on the sidelines of the Major League Cricket, it was clear that he shared more than just the surname with his illustrious father, Lasith, who wowed the world with a slinging action. One which made him one of the most lethal fast bowlers to come out of his country. His son Duvin has now shown a similar action. In a video posted by Mumbai Indians on their Instagram account, Malinga can be seen overseeing his son’s progress. He had a suggestion too. “Natural action. He needs to bowl straight and fast. If he beats that, he can learn the skills,” Malinga said.

During the IPL 2023, Malinga, who is also a bowling consultant with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and had dominated the Indian Premier League (IPL) for many years, praised Chennai Super Kings’ death-overs specialist Matheesha Pathirana and said that he wants CSK pacer to be better than him at bowling.

CSK has discovered a jewel in Pathirana. The youngster is a rising star, and the manner he has been weaving his spell around cricket fans all around the world has been nothing short of a spectacular thing. The young pacer has been frequently likened to Lasith Malinga, one of the greatest bowlers Sri Lanka have ever produced.

“I somehow want to make this guy even better than me. I think in the next Test tour, try to get him involved, and give him some ODIs as well. See how he plays in the next three years, and then see what the future course needs to be. If he plays 10 or 15 Tests in the next three years, that will be invaluable to his development,” Malinga told ESPNcricinfo. 

Watch : https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu6R8raAZas/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6123ffbb-a1f4-434d-bc88-9144f9d0d51b (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka Cricket legend Lasith Malinga has extended his gratitude to the public for helping him find a young boy who had shown exceptional bowling skills in a video shared on social media.

Malinga had resorted to finding the 09-year-old boy by appealing for the assistance of the public on various social media platforms. 

Providing an update on the matter, Malinga stated that the video of the bowling style of the young child had reminded him of his younger days and the natural talent within the boy, which prompted him to reach out to the child.

After having spoken to the child, Malinga stated he had discussed with the parents the option of enrolling him into a school with better facilities for cricket, only if the child is interested in learning the sport. 

Malinga further said as discussed and with the approval of the child’s parents, he is in the process of transferring the child to a school with better facilities for cricket and in close proximity to the child’s residence.

He further said that the child will be moved to a school teaching leather ball cricket in order to identify his skills and track his progress in the sport.

“This boy has his own unique style. A lot of people have compared him to me. This child has his own bowling style that showcases him as a very talented cricket player. I wish to see his progress over the next three to five years,” Malinga added. (NewsWire)

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