Lancashire get more Murali

28 December 2006

Muttiah Muralitharan

Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan could be making more appearances for Lancashire in 2007 than was originally thought after he indicated his desire to cut back on his one-day international commitments.

Muralitharan, who agreed to return to Old Trafford last month, is almost certain to miss the first match of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship, which starts on April 18, because of the World Cup in the Caribbean.

He would also miss the opening two ECB Trophy group games if Sri Lanka reach the final.

Murali may elect to sit out Sri Lanka’s three one-day international series against Bangladesh at the end of June and beginning of July, following the two-match Test series, which are scheduled during Lancashire's Twenty20 campaign.

He could also pull out of the Afro-Asia Cup in June which pits an Asian XI against an African XI but the 34-year-old will almost certainly miss the end of Lancashire's season to play in the first Twenty20 World Cup in September.