Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100162242300.htm

Sport - Cricket

Country will get the priority, says Murali

Kolkata: Bengal may be all excited having roped in leading Test wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan to revive its fortune in the Ranji Plate League, but the Sri Lankan off-spinner on Tuesday said he was yet to sign a contract and that his priority would be to represent the country.

Speaking to PTI from Colombo, Muralitharan said he was still unsure about his availability though the Sri Lankan Cricket Board had given him a go ahead. The spin wizard is now looking forward to the tour of Zimbabwe in November which means Bengal’s hopes of getting the off-spinner for the league round is highly unlikely.

“I am looking forward to our tour to Zimbabwe beginning on November 7. Then, in February-March we play in Bangladesh, so it remains to be seen whether I am at all available for Bengal.”