Murali thinks surgery not necessary for his injury

CRICKET: Sri Lanka’s champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes he will need only rest not surgery for his nagging shoulder injury after he was ruled out of the inaugural ICC Twenty/20 World Cup which starts in South Africa on September 11.

Muralitharan returned to Colombo as scheduled yesterday from his English county duties at Lancashire and will be examined by Sri Lankan team physio Tommy Simsek. Muralitharan’s manager Kushil Gunasekera said that the off spinner needs rest for about four week’s in addition to physiotherapy.

Gunasekera also said that the next course of action will depend on Simsek’s advice. He said that Muralitharan is also in contact with Dr. David Young who successfully operated on his shoulder in Australia.

Muralitharan was ruled out of the ICC World Twenty/20 Championships in South Africa next month following muscle pain on his right shoulder.

But he should be fit for the home one day series against England in October and for the two tests against Australia in November where he needs nine wickets to overtake the retired Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708 wickets.

(C.D)