COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from Test cricket later this month, but may play one-day matches until the World Cup, said officials.
“Muttiah Muralitharan has decided to retire from Test cricket after the first Test in Galle versus India commencing July 18,” Sri Lanka Cricket said on its website.
The off-spinner, 38, is the most successful bowler in history with record hauls in both Test (792) and one-day (515) cricket.
Reports said Muralitharan preferred not to wait until the end of the three Test matches against India because he was unsure of being able to manage the workload of an entire series.
Sri Lanka Cricket said Muralitharan had the blessing of President Mahinda Rajapakse to retire early, although the bowler had previously said he wanted to continue until the home series against the West Indies in November.
Muralitharan will, however, continue to make himself available for one-day matches and hopes to play in the 2011 World Cup if needed, said his manager Kushil Gunasekara.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2010.
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