S Thawfeeq: Leicester show interest in Murali (30 Jul 1998)

30 July 1998

Leicester show interest in Murali

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Leicestershire have shown interest in signing up Sri Lanka's ace spinner Muthiah Muralitharan as their overseas player for next season. Although nothing has been finalised yet, county officials sent signals across to the Sri Lankan management that they were very much interested in the off-spinner to play for them after the World Cup tournament in England next year.

Sri Lanka will be in England next May to defend the World Cup which they won in March 1996 and Muralitharan will no doubt form an integral part of the team.

Leicestershire coach Jackie Birkenshaw, an off-spinner during his time was full of praise for Muralitharan. He ranked him as the best off-spinner in the world today and expected him to take over 400 Test wickets by the time he finishes his international career.

Muralitharan took eight wickets for 149 runs to enable Sri Lanka beat Leicestershire by nine wickets on Monday. The county have also shown interest in opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)