Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on Friday said that he would retire from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent.
“This World Cup will be my last outing,” the 38-year-old veteran told reporters. “I am retiring totally from international cricket thereafter,” the off-spinner, who will though continue to role his arm in the IPL, said.
Muralitharan was hired by Kochi franchisee during a recent auction in Bangalore for a sum of USD 1.1 million. “My time is up. I have signed up to play for two years in the IPL (Indian Premier League). I am also looking at similar work in New Zealand and perhaps England,” Muralitharan said.
Muralitharan, however, insisted that right now he is just focusing on the cricketing extravaganza, which is scheduled to commence on February 19.
“This is my fourth World Cup. We won in 1996 and came close in 2007 by reaching the final. This would be a memorable one for me and for Sri Lankan fans,” he said.
Muralitharan also negated the reports that he was looking ahead to team up with retired Indian spinner Anil Kumble to start a spin academy for youngsters and reiterated that he had no immediate plans to switch to coaching.
“There are plenty of coaches and lots of talented people out there. I will take things as they come. For the moment, no coaching stints,” he added.
