Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa wants his country’s cricket team to win the tenth edition of the ICC World Cup for the world’s highest wicket-taker in test cricket Muttiah Muralitharan.
Sri Lanka will meet India in an all-Asian final at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2, to decide on which country takes home the World Cup. This is the first all-Asian final in 10 editions of the World Cup, spread over 36 years of cricket history.
This is Muralitharan’s last World Cup and he has appeared in the most number of cup matches by a Sri Lankan (39). Muralitharan had announced that he would retire at the end of the World Cup. “This will be the most fitting tribute to Muralitharan, who has upheld the true spirit of Sri Lanka. He played the game like a true Sri Lankan,” the President told his country’s team. There would be no better gift for Muralitharan, who has always played the game in its right spirit and never gave up despite the many obstacles in his way, he added. Sri Lanka is in a World Cup final for the second straight time. They have reached the finals thrice, and won it once.
Earlier, soon after the Sri Lankan team beat New Zealand comprehensively on March 29 at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo, Mr. Rajapaksa spoke to Muralitharan and appreciated his contributions to Sri Lankan cricket. March 29 was the last time that Muralitharan played competitive international ODI cricket in Sri Lanka. The President told Muralitharan that he joined millions in the country to wish him on his many achievements, a close aide of the President said.
Muralitharan had announced his retirement from test cricket last year. In a fairy-tale end to his test career, on June 22, 2010, he took the last wicket off his last ball in test cricket to reach the magical figure of 800 wickets, a mark no one else ever has and, perhaps never will.
In the match against New Zealand, Muralitharan finished with figures of 2 for 42 off his 10 overs. Muralitharan needs three more wickets to equal Glen McGrath’s record of most wickets (71) in World Cup Cricket.
Among those cheering for Muralitharan and his team will be the Sri Lankan President at the Mumbai stadium. The cricket-crazy nation, like India, will come to a standstill on Saturday as Sri Lanka takes on India. There is a wild rush for tickets to Mumbai. Though tickets are sold out, many are still hoping to get into the stadium once they reach Mumbai.
