Lasith Malinga: advised another four weeks of rest © AFP

Sri Lanka could be without fast bowler Lasith Malinga for quite awhile after the second MRI tests taken on his injured right knee five days ago showed hardly any improvement. Malinga, according to physios, was asked to rest his injured knee for four weeks, or until May 10, before another assessment will be made.

Malinga first complained of pain on his knee on February 22 during the CB Series in Australia. It was diagnosed as a swollen bone on his knee. Since that time Malinga has been under constant treatment and missed out on Sri Lanka's recent tour of the Caribbean and the ongoing Indian Premier League, where he was brought by the Mumbai Indians for US$350,000.

Sri Lanka Cricket physios are keeping their fingers crossed on Malinga's recovery. He is expected to have his first bowl in the nets by the first week of June and be ready to make a comeback in time for the Asia Cup, which starts on June 24 in Pakistan. This will be followed by a full series of three Tests and five ODIs against India at home and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Since breaking into the international scene four years ago this is the first serious injury Malinga, 24, has suffered. He has 91 wickets from 28 Tests and 79 wickets from 53 ODIs.