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Murali refuses to talk to local media

Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Before being taken ill, and when the big news that Sri Lanka's off spinning sensation Muttiah Muralitheran was chosen 'Wisden Bowler of the century' after great difficulty I managed to track him in his hotel room at the Brisbane Sheraton and while congratulating him on his wonderful achievement, asked him a few questions.

But surprisingly he shied away and did not seem to like to face the local media while allowing the media here in Australia, both print and electronic to feature him.

True this story is stale, but it is being repeated for sports fans in Sri Lanka who could not be told this story earlier.

When I rang Muralitheran at the hotel I asked him whether he had any special message for his numerous fans in Sri Lanka who apparently too were overjoyed with his success, he said no.

It was apparent that Muralitheran had, had a brush with some of the local media and had said he would not want to face the media.

But Muralitheran must remember not to tar all media with the same brush.

He must not forget that it was the local media that encouraged, appreciated and boosted his career from the time he got into the wicket taking act as a schoolboy at St. Anthony'College, Kandy.

When his international cricket career was on the line, when his terminators Darrel Hair and Ross Emerson called him for chucking it was the local print and electronic media that stood up for him and took on Hair and Emerson and told them to lay off the champion off spinner Muralitheran.

At the moment indications are that Muralitheran is on course to shatter all the world bowling records and become the greatest bowler that the game will see or ever see.

So it is hoped that Muralitheran will treat the local media with the respect it deserves and become humbler by the day as records and achievements come his way. As for us we are more than proud when records, achievements and milestones come his way.

Muralitheran will soon be seen in action in the on-going Victoria Bitter one-day competition and there is no doubt that the drunken Aussie louts will be howling chucker everytime he runs up to bowl.

He can count on us for all the support.

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