(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Former Sri Lanka bowler Muttiah Muralitharan will be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in June in England. Muralitharan therefore will become the first Sri Lankan bowler to be given this honour. Muralitharan, along with England’ late George Lohmann, late Arthur Morris of Australia and former Australia Women’s captain Karen Rolton, will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODI) with 800 and 534 scalps respectively. He has represented Sri Lanka in 133 Tests and 350 ODIs. He is also one of two bowlers to have over 1,000 international wickets – Australia’s Shane Warne being the other.
Muralitharan also has 13 T20 International (T20I) wickets from 12 matches. CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Ashley de Silva said, “It gives us immense sense of pride that Murali is receiving this highest honour. We are proud of him and the glory he has brought to cricket in Sri Lanka. His illustrious career demonstrates that he belongs to this highly prestigious group,” according to wisdenindia.com. The Hall of Fame inductees will be presented with commemorative caps with families of Lohmann and Morris expected to be present on this occasion.
“The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame recognises some of the truly great players from cricket’s long and illustrious history, and this year’s inductees thoroughly deserve to be in this highly prestigious group,” said Dave Richardson, the chief executive of the ICC. “Muralitharan has been one of the greats of the modern era. His guile and consistency over the years helped Sri Lanka develop as a very competitive side in both Tests and ODI cricket.”
