ST GEORGE’S, April 15: Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody has said he is 90 percent sure fast bowler Lasith Malinga will miss Monday's Super Eights match against world champions Australia.Malinga, 23, sustained left ankle ligament damage in training that ruled him out of Thursday's six-wicket win against New Zealand here.

Sri Lanka, third in the table, have, like standings leaders Australia and second-placed New Zealand, already qualified for the semi-finals.

Australia and Sri Lanka look set to avoid each other in the last four and will not meet again until possibly the April 28 final in Barbados.

“I can probably say it's 90 percent sure he won't be available for tomorrow's match,” Moody said.

“We are aware he's not quite right and we don't want to worsen the situation. We'd rather get on top of it completely before we let him loose again.

“He'll definitely be playing, going forward, but probably tomorrow is a day or two too early,” explained Moody, a member of the Australia squads that won the World Cup in 1987 and 1999.

Malinga, 23, bowled off a shortened run in the nets at Grenada's La Sagesse cricket ground for approximately 15 minutes on Saturday, generating lively pace, before having his left ankle heavily strapped.

Farveez Maharoof, who deputised for Malinga against New Zealand, is likely to retain his place although Sri Lanka also have fellow quick Nuwan Kulasekera in their squad.—AFP