Muttiah Muralitharan Rejects Sri Lanka Cricket's Offer

Updated - 18 Jun 2018, 01:27 AM

Muttiah Muralitharan (Credits - AP Photo)

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Former Sri Lankan great and arguably one of the greatest spinners of all time, Muttiah Muralitharan has turned down the offer by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board for a position of a consultant in the national team. The decision by Murali has come just days after Mahela Jayawardena refused to be part of the Sri Lankan team as a consultant. He blamed the existing condition of the cricketing affairs in the country.

Murali has played 133 Tests for Sri Lanka and is the highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game. He has 800 wickets under his belt. Murali hit out at the administrators saying that he has no trust in the management system. “I am of the view that it is an insincere, cunning move, more to use us when the cricket administration is in such a deplorable state. I stand by the sentiments that Mahela has expressed,” Murali said in a statement.

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“It is sad that National cricketers are not consulted until it (the sport) hits the rock bottom. I would not hesitate to give of my time if I do realize the genuineness and credibility of the administration despite my own professional coaching engagements worldwide,” he further added.

Muralitharan till very recently was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad outfit in the IPL as a spin bowling consultant. Under his guidance, bowlers like Shakib Al Hasan and Rashid Khan benefited a lot. It was in the IPL that Murali had blamed the over the influence of the politicians who have very little knowledge about the game which was the reason behind the deteriorating quality.

Views of Mahela

A few days earlier Mahela had given his views on social media that what he feels about the current administration system. “With all due respect to the selectors and Sports Minister, I have spent one year in the Cricket Committee and six months in a special advisory committee and no recommendations were implemented. I don’t have any trust in the system. If anyone wants to buy time please don’t use us.”