Leading Sri Lanka bowler Lasith Malinga will miss the first two one-day internationals against New Zealand and may not be available for the entire series, team officials said on Friday.

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Malinga is still recovering from a knee injury sustained during the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka in October and November.

“He has not come for the one-dayers,” team manager Jerry Woutersz said. “He’s feeling some discomfort in his knee. Whether he will come between the ODIs and T20s, no-one knows.”

Thisara Perera has joined the squad in Malinga’s place.

New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said Malinga’s absence was a “big loss” for the visitors.

“What a contributor Malinga has been over a number of years for Sri Lanka,” McMillan said. “He has been their key fast bowler. He’s a quite a handful. I’m sure they’ll miss him, but it gives an opportunity to some other younger guys in the squad.”

New Zealand also have injury concerns with Kane Williamson, the newly crowned No1 Test batsman in the world, suffering discomfort in his right knee. Test opener Tom Latham has been put on standby for the ODI squad. 

“We’re just working through that knee. It’s just a little bit niggly so we want to make sure it’s 100 percent,” McMillan said. “If it’s not, Tom is the man we’ll bring in as cover.”

Malinga is the third Sri Lankan player unavailable for selection. Fast bowler Dhammika Prasad had previously been ruled out through injury, while hard-hitting batsman Kusal Perera is still suspended after testing positive for banned