Pawuluge Malinda Pushpakumara, commonly as Malinda Pushpakumara (born 24 March 1987) is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who played Test and ODIs. He plays for Colombo Cricket Club in first-class cricket.[1] In January 2019, he took all ten wickets in an innings in a first-class cricket match.[2]
In January 2019, during the round six match between Colombo Cricket Club and Saracens Sports Club in the 2018–19 Premier League Tournament, Pushpakumara took all ten wickets in the second innings of the match.[2] It was the first ten-wicket haul in an innings in first-class cricket since 2009, and the best figures since 1995.[11] In the same match, he also took his 700th first-class wicket[2] and became the second Sri Lankan bowler to take all ten wickets in an innings.[12] He finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, with 63 dismissals in nine matches, which included seven five-wicket hauls.[13]
In February 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's Test squad for their series against Bangladesh, although he did not play.[18]
In July 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's Test squad for their series against India.[19] He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka against India on 3 August 2017.[20] He had to bowl 20 overs for the maiden wicket, when he stumped Ajinkya Rahane. However, his bowling figures of the match was 2 for 156 runs, where India recorded 619 for the first innings. Pushpakumara played as the night-watchman in the second innings, where he scored 16 runs. However, Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings and 53 runs at the end.
The following month, he was named in Sri Lanka's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against India.[21] He made his ODI debut on 31 August 2017 against India. He gave away 65 runs without taking a wicket and only scored 3 runs.[22]
In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.[23][24]