CRICKET: Sri Lanka suffered a major blow less than a week before their departure to South Africa as off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the inaugural ICC Twenty/20 World Cup with an elbow injury.
Secretary Sri Lanka Cricket Kangadaran Mathivanan said that Muralitharan suffered with an elbow injury while playing for Lancashire and will be out for more than four to six week's. The injury also means that Muralitharan may not be fit in time for the five one-day international home series against England which starts on October 1.
Murali walked off the field with a right biceps strain after bowling more than 33 overs on the first day of Lancashire's game against Kent on Wednesday. Though he returned before the close of play, he did not bowl again during Kent's innings.
Muralitharan who is the quickest to take 200 wickets for Lancashire, was making his last county appearance this season and was scheduled to fly home over the weekend to join the Sri Lankan team's preparations for the Twenty20 tournament.
No replacement has been announced as yet but it is almost certain that Dilruwan Perera, the off spinning all-rounder who was on standby when the original squad was announced, is the front runner.
(C.D)
**********************Murali may consult Dr. David Young
By BIPIN DANI
Mumbai, Aug. 30 : Sri Lanka's leading Test wicket taker Muthiah Muralidharan may consult an Australian orthopaedic surgeon David Young for his elbow injury, according to his manager Kushil Gunasekhara.
Speaking to this scribe over his mobile from Colombo, he said, "Dr. David Young is a noted orthopaedic surgeon is Melbourne and he has treated Muralidharan (and few other cirkceters-that includes Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar-around world) in the past. Muralidharan may not be required to travel to Australia but will certainly seek his advice over telephone on injury", he said. Murali has no early plan to return to Sri Lanka. "He is missing Lancashire's important match against Kent but will not prepone his arrival (as hardly few days are left for his scheduled arrival) and as per original schedule is expected to arrive here on Sunday". Murali is missing Twenty20 in South Africa but many in Sri Lanka believe it is going to be a blessing in disguese for him.
Twenty20 is a faster version of game than even one dayers. Considering Murali on a threshold of a world record of highest Test wickets, he would get reasonable rest.
At present, his participation for the forthcoming away-two Tests against Australia is not in doubts but one never knows....He is to consult team physio for scans etc. immediately on his arrival and further line of treatment would be decided thereafter.
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