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Muralitharan to miss first Test against Pakistan

Last updated on: July 03, 2009 16:19 IST

Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan 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 starting in August.

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

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

Source: REUTERS
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