Injured Muralitharan ruled out of ODI series, returning home

RAJKOT - Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralithran has been ruled out of the ongoing One-Day International series against India with a finger injury.

Muralitharan picked up the injury during the final Test in Mumbai and missed the two Twenty20 matches and the first ODI here Tuesday.

“We have decided to rest Murali from the One-day series to allow him to recover and be available for future tournaments. He will be flying back home,” said team manager Brendon Kuruppu.

Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, too, has been ruled out of the series with a finger injury he sustained during Tuesday’s match.

Off-spinners Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and Suraj Randiv have been named as replacements for the rest of the four matches of the series. Pushpakumara was part of the Twenty20 squad in India. They will join the team before the second ODI in Nagpur Friday.

Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Test and ODIs, did not have much impact on Indian batsmen during the Test series that the hosts won 2-0. The two teams were tied 1-1 in the two Twenty20 matches.

The spin wizard had even contemplated retirement from the game before the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent.

India lead the ODI series after winning in Rajkot by three runs.

Lasith Malinga, who missed the first ODI due to injury, is expected to be fit for the second match.