Sri Lanka's [ Images ] Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] will miss the first Test against Pakistan due to a knee injury.

Muralitharan, who holds the record for the most Test wickets, has injured his patella tendon and will require two-to-three weeks rest.

The off-spinner suffered the injury while fielding on Wednesday and the decision was made after scans revealed a slight tear.

"I was hoping to play but when (team physio) Tommy Simsek saw the scans we realised I needed to rest," Muralitharan told Reuters.

Muralitharan could return for the third and final Test but it is more likely he will target their one-day series or a series against New Zealand [ Images ] starting in August.

Selectors have called up off-spinner Suraj Kaluhalamulla (formerly known as Suraj Mohamed) and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath [ Images ] as cover for the opening Test, which starts on Saturday.

Herath has been rushed back to Sri Lanka from England [ Images ] where he was playing club cricket while Mohamed took three wickets against Pakistan in a warm-up game this week.