Muralitharan 'elbowed' out

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)