Warne flies out to help Murali in Sri Lanka

Shane Warne will fulfil a promise to Muttiah Muralitharan by flying to Sri Lanka today to help the rebuilding process after the Boxing Day tsunami. Warne, who took 2 for 20 in Victoria's ING Cup win over Queensland at Ballarat yesterday, will return in time for the crucial clash against New South Wales on Sunday as they push for a place in the final.

Warne is scheduled to travel to some of the worst hit areas including Galle - "where one of my favourite cricket grounds in the world was washed away" - and he will direct money from his children's charity to Sri Lanka. Warne said he was also dealing with the Melbourne City Council in a bid to restore the ground at Galle.

"Right after the tsunami tragedy I promised Murali I would do whatever possible and while my Foundation was set up to aid Australian children in need, through our friends we will channel funds into this worthy cause," Warne wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.

Warne, who played in the charity match at the MCG and the three-game series in New Zealand, said he "just wants to help" and will travel with Brad Grapsas, the chief executive of the Shane Warne Foundation, to see where the money raised by the organisation will go.

"Murali and I have always got along okay, I have huge respect for him, but fate and its tragedy has thrown us together in this and no doubt it has brought us closer," Warne wrote. "Our head-to-head battle for the world Test-wickets record is a terrific joust on the sporting field, but on this issue I'm proud for us to be brothers in arms for such a cause."