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Murali out of World T20

30/08/2007

Sri Lanka have revealed that star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will not play a part in their Twenty20 World Championship campaign because of an elbow injury.

The veteran bowler, who currently lies second on the list of all-time wicket takers in both Test and one-day international cricket behind Australia's Shane Warne, suffered the injury playing for county side Lancashire.

A statement from their medical team today read: "Murali has a bicep strain and is currently undergoing treatment.

"He had a scan yesterday and we are waiting for the results to determine the extent of his injury.

"We have been in consultation with Sri Lanka's medical staff who are aware of the situation, and we will continue to access and treat his conduction in the coming days until he returns to Sri Lanka [this weekend]."

Kangadaran Mathivanan, the secretary of the Sri Lankan cricket board, told AFP: "Murali is affected by an elbow injury and he will be out for four to six weeks.

"He is definitely out of the Twenty20 [championship]."

The stated rehabilitation period also means Muralitharan may not be fit for the start of the five-match ODI series against England, which starts in Sri Lanka on October 1st.

The problem follows criticism of Lancashire, who have been accused of over-bowling the 35-year-old.

He sent down 33 overs during the first day's play against Kent yesterday before leaving the field after suffering the strain and has played a major part in each of his eight appearances for Lancashire since signing earlier this summer.