Injured Murali to fly home on Sunday

Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spinner, was ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20 after aggravating a groin injury during the Super Eights game against West Indies at Barbardos on Friday. Sri Lanka team manager Anura Tennekoon confirmed that the groin strain Muralitharan suffered during the group games had flared up during the match and there was no way he could make any recovery before the end of the tournament.

"Muralitharan will be flying home tomorrow and his replacement Thilan Thushara is already here," Tennekoon said. Sri Lanka took a risk playing Murali in the West Indies game. The bowler sent down his four overs before limping off to the pavilion to seek further treatment.

It was evident on the field that Murali wasn't 100% fit to play, but coach Trevor Bayliss stated on Friday that when a player of his experience tell you he is fit you had to trust his judgement. "You take the word of the player. Murali thought he was right and that he was ready to go," said Bayliss.

The ICC has confirmed the change and Murali is the sixth player to be replaced for the tournament. Sri Lanka, who beat West Indies by 57 runs, play Australia on Sunday and then confront India on Tuesday in their remaining Super Eight Group F matches.