Murali can end up with 1000 wickets - Arjuna
Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga feels ace off-spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan can end up with more than 1,000 Test wickets if he
plays for few more years.
Speaking at a press event, organised by Sri Lankan Airways in Mumbai
to promote tourism between Sri Lanka and India and launch special
holiday packages for Indian tourists wanting to visit the island nation
during India’s cricket tour next month, Ranatunga, chairman of the Sri
Lanka Cricket Board, said, “I hope Murali will get 1,000 [Test] wickets
and that is a short term plan.
He looks very fit and he trains very hard. I hope that he can
continue for at least another three-four years. He never talks about
retirement; I mean, he is just unbelievable and hope he can get 1,000
wickets.”
Ranatunga believes that getting an opportunity to witness Sachin
Tendulkar breaking Brian Lara’s world record for all-time runs scored in
Tests should be a big incentive for Indian fans to make the trip.
Tendulkar is 171 runs behind Lara’s aggregate of 11,953 runs and will
get a chance to surpass the former West Indies batsmen during India’s
three Test series in Sri Lanka. Ranatunga is of the opinion that the
master batsman still has a few more years left in him.
“If I was the chairman of selectors I would handle Sachin in a very
different way, like what we are doing with Murali. If properly looked
after, I think, Sachin can play till the 2011 World Cup. You should not
really strain him, especially in the one-day arena. His commitment is
huge, and if properly protected I am sure he can go up to the next World
Cup.”
Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to World Cup glory in 1996, says the
much hyped duel between Tendulkar and Muralitharan will add spice to the
contest. “The Test series will be something to watch, because there will
be two great cricketers playing: Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah
Muralitharan.
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