Mumbai Indians add Pattinson after Malinga opts out of IPL

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Sri Lanka v West Indies - Emirates Riverside, Chester-Le-Street, Britain - July 1, 2019 Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has opted out of this year's Indian Premier League citing personal reasons and will be replaced by Australia's James Pattinson at Mumbai Indians, the club said on Wednesday.

Pattinson, who previously played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and has 47 wickets in 39 Twenty20 matches, will join the Mumbai team in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates this weekend, the franchise said.

"Lasith Malinga has requested unavailability for the season for personal reasons and to be with family back home in Sri Lanka," Mumbai said in a statement https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/mumbai-indians-replace-lasith-malinga-with-australian-pacer-james-pattinson.

Cricket - Australia Nets - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 2, 2019 Australia's James Pattinson during nets Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Malinga, the IPL's leading wicket taker with 170 wickets, helped Mumbai win their fourth title last season.

This year's IPL, which was originally scheduled to begin in March in India, is being held in the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament starts on Sept. 19.

(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Chennai, editing by Pritha Sarkar)