Muttiah Muralitharan, talented bwoler of Sri Lanka, is the first man to take more than 1300 wickets in international cricket. He is also the highest wicket-taker in Test and one-day international format. World Cup 2011 could be his last World Cup.
Muttiah Muralitharan tells DNA that Sri Lanka are well prepared for the mega event.
Sri Lanka won it in 1996. What do you think of your chances this time around?
It has been almost 14 years since that event. That was one of the greatest moments for us. But that is a thing of past and I just want to look forward. Looking backwards won’t help. We are playing our matches at home and that will help us.
Who do you think are the other favourite teams to win the World Cup?
I would say there are no favourites as such. Yeah, India and Sri Lanka are playing at home and they will have the advantage. But other teams, too, have played over here and know the conditions and they have a chance. In the end, it boils down to the team that takes one match at a time.
What do you have to say about India’s chances, one of the co-hosts?
India playing at home are always dangerous. They have been doing very well off late and I think they are one of the strong contenders. They can be one of the teams to look out for.
India are going in with three spinners, the experienced Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin and Piyush Chawla…
I have not followed the Indian team’s selection for the World Cup as I am busy with our own preparations. However, as I said they are one of the good sides in the Cup.
How has your team’s preparations been for the World Cup?
Our preparations for the World Cup have been quite good. We have been playing our domestic matches and the players look in good nick. We will be playing most of our league matches at home except one (vs New Zealand in Mumbai) and obviously we know the conditions.
This will be your last World Cup, how do you see that?
I just want to focus on my performance and not think about anything else. My aim is to put up my best for Sri Lanka.
This could be Sachin Tendulkar’s last World Cup. What do you make of the contest?
India and Sri Lanka are not meeting in the league matches. If we qualify, we may meet in the knock-out stages. Why only in World Cup, it is always fascinating to bowl to Sachin. We both are hungry to do well.
