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| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
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I love to play in Australia - Murali by A.C. De Silva
The stadium was packed to capacity the day the Asian tsunami appeal one-day match between Rest of the World and an Asian XI to raise funds for the disaster-hit areas of the tidal-wave disaster. The crowds came that day to the Melbourne Stadium to help the unfortunate ones and also to watch the meeting again of those two pals - Muttiah Muralitharan - the world-class "offie" from Sri Lanka and Shane Warne - the equally famous "leggie" of Australia. It was a big happening as the two bowlers have not met on the cricket field for a long time. It was after 5 1/2 months that Muralitharan had played in a competitive cricket match and it was purely because he wanted to help the unfortunate ones that he made himself available to play in the game. "It will take me another month to recover from the shoulder injury. I will have to play another five or six matches like this one to be in fine trim and good shape to play", he said. Q: Do you think that you will make up and get into the game? A: I hopefully expect to be fit by March. Then I will be going to Lancashire in April. Then the West Indies tour will come in July. Q: It was reported in the press that you have said that you will never again play in Australia. Is there any truth to that statement. A: I never said that I will never go to Australia. There were some problems when I was last there in Cairns and so I skipped the matches played recently. So when things went wrong, I thought that it was best to skip the trip and Sri Lanka Cricket accepted my plea. That's the only reason. Once again I would like to say that I like to play in Australia and I will do so". Q: You have said that the greatest player in the game is Brian Lara A: Yes! I have bowled to him so many times at a stretch. We have played many matches. He got hundreds and double hundreds. So I struggled somewhat bowling to him. I enjoy playing against him. Q: Very glad to know that you physically enjoyed playing against him. A: I like players who offer a challenge when I bowl. It gives a certain amount of pleasure in taking wickets of great players - it will be one up for me. Q: 122 countries were watching the telecast with over a billion people involved. How do you enjoy that type of publicity. A: I like to thank all the people who are helping at the moment - not only in Sri Lanka, but in all other countries. The tsunami victims deserve a lot of help and once again I like to say 'thank you' for the wonderful effort put by all the helpers to soften the burden on the victims. What upset Muralitharan on the last occasion was the Australian Prime Minister John Howard referring to him as a "chukker" over him much publicised double - shoulder bowling action. Subsequently, Murali refused to tour Australia with the Sri Lanka team. But Murali, being the perfect gentleman that he is, came forward to help the tsunami victims by consenting to play in the charity match and he was well received this time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He was cheered all the way by the record crowd of around 78,000 when he came on to bowl that day in the match between the Asian XI and Rest of the World XI in Melbourne. However, the Aussie Prime Minister Howard was a different man altogether this time and he heartily welcomed the Sri Lanka champion Muralitharan: "Murali welcome to Australia. We are very happy that you are back" he said. Muralitharan, himself was a happy man and was beaming with smiles as the Aussie PM greeted him. The great off-spinner was moved by the tsunami disaster and he came forward to throw his might and to match his skills with the Rest of the World XI batsmen. He took 3 for 59 in ten overs in the World XI score of 344 for 8 wickets in the 50 overs and though the Asian XI could score only 232, the match was well received by all those present on the ground and people watching the match on their T. V. screens in some 122 countries around the world. From the huge success of the first match staged in Melbourne a few days back, there will be more matches coming up in order to find more money for the disaster victims in the near future. 'World Vision' has agreed to donate an initial sum of Australian dollars 50,000 to Sri Lanka Cricket-Aid and according to reports they have decided to increase the aid. New Zealand Cricket Board along with FICA (Federation of International Cricket Association) and New Zealand Cricket Association has come forward to help the disaster victims by agreeing with Sri Lanka Cricket to stage three fund-raising cricket matches between Black Caps and FICA XI in New Zealand on January 22, 24 and 26. The minimum sum guaranteed to be raised by the event is U. S. Dollars 230,000. Shane Warne will captain the F. I. C. A. World XI with his friend Muttiah Muralitharan too in the team. The F. I. C. A. team will be picked from the following: Shane Warne captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas, Graeme Hick, Nick Knight, Andy Flower, Heath Streak, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Mathew Elliot, Ian Harvey, Justin Langer, Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes (player and coach) The Federation of International Cricketers' Association FICA was established 1n 1998 to co-ordinate the activities of all national players' associations which protect the interests of professional cricketers throughout the world. The member associations include - Australian Cricketers' Association. New Zealand Cricket Players' Association. Professional Cricketers' Association UK. South African Cricketers' Association. Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association. Zimbabwean Players Association and West Indies Players' Association. There is every possibility of a return Asian Tsunami Relief Appeal cricket match being staged next month, with Calcutta (Eden Gardens) being the likely venue according to official sources of the International Cricket Council. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said there was a small chance opportunity to stage the game between England's scheduled finish to their five-Test series in South Africa on February 13 and Australia starting their tour to New Zealand on February 17. |
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