Muttiah Muralitharan has pulled out of a trip to Australia to mentor the country's emerging spin bowling talents.
Sri Lanka spin star has prior commitments in IPL and English county game
Muttiah Muralitharan has pulled out of a trip to Australia to mentor the country's emerging spin bowling talents, it was reported on Tuesday.
The world's leading wicket-taker, who is currently playing for Sri Lanka in the World Cup, had been set to spend several weeks at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.
However, Muralitharan's agent told Sydney's
Daily Telegraph that clashing commitments for both Gloucestershire and Indian Premier League side Kochi would now prevent his trip.
"Unfortunately, Murali will not be able to make it," Kashil Gunasekera said.
"Cricket Australia wanted him to come down for a particular period of time but it doesn't go down well with the IPL and his Gloucestershire assignments.
"They (CA) wanted him to come at the end of May but then everything changed with prior commitments he had undertaken. They were trying to figure out another time, but it just couldn't be finalised."
Strained
Muralitharan has endured a strained relationship with Australia at times in the past, having been called for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair in 1995 and also heckled by fans.
Gunasekera insisted the decision had nothing to do with such matters and that Muralitharan was keen to visit Australia and tutor young bowlers.
"He was very pleased with the invitation and he was going to consent to it but the dates clashed," he added.
"He's willing to help anyone, that's his philosophy. But after the World Cup, the IPL starts on April 7 and goes until the end of May and by June 1 he has to go to Gloucestershire."
The 38-year-old has a world record 800 wickets in Tests and 521 wickets in one-day internationals.
