Kolkata, March 18 (IANS): Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Twenty20 after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Malinga, 32, missed Thursday's win over Afghanistan and will return home on Friday.

"Sri Lanka team management on tour have observed that Malinga who's niggling injury has been flaring up would be better off resting it, and have recommended he return to Colombo," a Sri Lanka Cricket statement on Friday.

Sri Lanka are yet to name his replacement.

"The practice T20 matches for the remaining players from the WT20 pool will get underway at the R. Premadasa International Stadium this evening, and the selectors are expected to pick a suitable replacement for Malinga, to join the team," the statement added.

Malinga was named captain midway through Sri Lanka's victorious World T20 campaign in 2014, but stood down just before this year's tournament in India and was replaced by Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lanka's next match is against the West Indies on Sunday.