Vaas, Malinga on bodyline course
A major rift is growing between the current Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and Limited Overs specialist fast bowler, slinger Lasith Malinga, according to cricket insiders. 
The Sunday Times learns that differences between the two Lankan champion bowlers have reached a crisis point and the sparks are penetrating right into the dressing room.
Chaminda Vaas, by far the most consistent and best seam operator that Sri Lanka has produced, represented the country in all three forms of the game and has bagged 355 Test wickets and 400 ODI wickets. Playing for the country in six T-20 games, he has also bagged six wickets.
When another top insider was questioned about the crisis, his reply was, “There is a lot of truth in what you are inquiring about.”
It is also understood that the administration could not intervene in this matter directly because there is no mention about this development in the tour manager’s report, although insiders say the rift began when the Sri Lankan team was taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy in England last month.
Malinga, who is considered to be a world class Limited Overs Specialist and a renowned “death-overs” bowler in the limited version of the game, is reported to be rebelling against the views of the Lankan fast bowling coach and does not even attend practice sessions on a regular basis. It is also said that Malinga does not heed Vaas’ advice.
In the first ODI which Sri Lanka won at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Malinga bagged a wicket in the very first ball of the South African innings, but only bowled four overs, to finish with figures of 1 for 21. In the rain curtailed second ODI at the same venue, which Sri Lanka won through the D/L method, Malinga bowled only three overs. In the 3rd ODI at Pallekele on Friday Malinga was carted for 19 runs by the South African middle order batsman David Miller on Friday.
Recently, even Sri Lanka’s Cricket Selection Committee Chairman Sanath Jayasuriya was questioning Malinga’s commitment, especially when it comes to engagements against India. Malinga represents the Mumbai Indians in the Indian T-20 league IPL and is hailed as a hero in the Indian commercial capital.
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