Young fast bowler Mateesha Pathirana is terrorising the world's top batsmen with his toe-crushing yorkies in the Indian Premier League and is likely to boost Sri Lanka's chances at the T20 World Cup.
Nicknamed “Baby Malinga” for his unconventional bowling style reminiscent of compatriot Rashid Malinga, the 21-year-old has already established himself as a death-over specialist despite only playing 12 ODIs and six T20 matches for Sri Lanka.
Pathirana picked up 13 wickets in just six games for Chennai Super Kings in this season's IPL but returned home early with a hamstring injury, leaving his absence unfortunate for his Sri Lankan teammates.
However, all seems well as the bowler has left with Wanindu Hasaranga's Sri Lankan team for the 20-over tournament that begins in the West Indies and the United States from June 1.
“Sri Lanka will be looking to Mateesha Pathirana to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” cricket reporter Rex Clementine wrote in The Island.
“Pathirana has been a sensation in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings and he has shown glimpses of his skill in bowling unplayable death overs,” Clementine added.
“If he can stay on track and take the right lines, he could have a big impact on the tournament.”
Malinga is equally excited to see the young debutant use “his pace and his yorker”.
“But the most striking thing about Matisha is his open-mindedness,” Malinga told Cricinfo.
“He's very positive in the game. That's not something we can teach him. It's something that comes naturally to him. Even in his first year playing the IPL, he had no fear or doubts.”
“If you tell him this is what needs to happen now, he has the ability to do it.
“He's decisive. He thinks clearly.”
Sri Lanka chief selector Upul Tharanga also expects the youngster to overwhelm the opposition batsmen in the final few overs, along with 29-year-old fast bowler Nuwan Thushara.
Malinga is excited to see the two together and is enthralled.
“In the T20 format, people always talk about the york ball because it's the ball that prevents sixes,” he said.
“To have two bowlers in the same tournament who can bowl the york ball like them… it's unbelievable, it's just madness.”
“I think our bowling lineup is the best in the world.”
Pathirana was named man of the match after taking figures of 4-28 in Chennai's 20-run win over Mumbai Indians this season, surpassing India captain Rohit Sharma's 100.
He took crucial wickets including T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav in the eighth over before returning at the death to get Romario Shepherd out with a trademark sling delivery.
Since joining Chennai, Pathirana has been making a consistent impact in the world's most popular T20 league and attributes his performances to the tutelage of team mainstay and former India captain MS Dhoni.
“In my cricketing life, he mainly plays the role of my father,” Pathirana said on his YouTube channel from Chennai.
“He always looks out for me and gives me advice on what to do when I'm at home, just like a father would,” he added.
“He just tells me little things but it makes a big difference and gives me a lot of confidence.”
Dhoni had last year suggested that Pathirana should eschew Tests and focus primarily on the 20-over format.
Pathirana is also a favourite with the announcers for his wicket celebration, in which he crosses his arms over his chest and looks up to the sky, a pose the youngster admits he models on Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sri Lanka, the 2014 champions, begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa in New York on June 3 and will also face Bangladesh, Nepal and the Netherlands in the group stage.
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