Lasith Malinga has opted for Mumbai Indians over his Sri Lankan team, Southern Express, in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, to be played in India from September 13.

Nishantha Ranatunga, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary said that the pacer had a talk with the officials and had conveyed his wish to play for the Indian franchise.

He said in terms of the existing contracts entered by the SLC with the Indian Premier League, Champions League and the local players, the players are given the option to make their own choice about which team they should represent.

Malinga had led the Southern Express to victory in the national Twenty20 competition paving their entry into the Champions League. Interestingly, Malinga will be lining up against the Southern Express in their CLT20 qualifier against Mumbai on September 14.