Murali may still play in Twenty20 World Cup

CRICKET: Muttiah Muralitharan may still feel fit to play in the inaugural ICC Twenty20 cricket World Cup in South Africa depending on the medical report next week.

The champion off-spinner has been prevented from bowling in Lancashire’s ongoing LV Division One match against Kent at Canterbury, after suffering discomfort in his right arm on the first day.

Earlier, reports indicated that Muralitharan will be out from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa and may not be even fit in time for the five one-day international home series against England which starts on October 1.

But now he will have to wait until next week before he knows for sure whether his bicep injury will rule him out of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament.

He will arrive in Sri Lanka as planned today and a final decision will then be taken by the medical staff of Sri Lanka Cricket on whether he can take part in next month’s Twenty20 showpiece in South Africa. (C.D)