Murali Officially Announces Retirement
Murali signing a commemorative poster
Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, at a press conference this evening, officially announced his retirement from test cricket.
“I am here to thank everyone who has helped me,” he said, going on to state that he felt the time was right for him to make an exit.
“I will be happy to give up all forms of cricket,” said the record-breaking bowler, who will be playing his last test matches in Galle from the 18th to the 22nd of July, against India.
Muralitharan said he will also quit international Twenty20 cricket, but continue to play domestic T20 matches.
Sri Lanka Cricket has, however, requested that he stay on for the World Cup next year.
Murali, as the cricketer is often referred to, has taken a record-breaking 792 wickets in 132 test matches.
When asked if he would want to claim his 800th wicket before retiring, he said, “800 is only number…just a milestone.”
He did, however, go on to state that it would be a motive to win, and prove quite a challenge, to reach that milestone by the end of his test career later this month.
by Maryam Azwer
(Picture by Gazala Anver)
