Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan Offers More Than Test Wickets

Muttiah Muralitharan is retiring from Test cricket after the first Test match against India at Galle later this month. No doubt, Sri Lanka will miss the 38-year-old wily spinner’s services in the longer version of the game—an area where he made his presence felt for long 18 years. His haul of 792 Test wickets is a world record (also his 515 one-day cricket wickets). For the public, ‘Murali’ is the faithful servant of Sri Lanka cricket, a sole match winner for his motherland for a long time. And for the majority of the world cricket fraternity, a legend of the game. But for a handful of people who know the ‘smiling assassin’ inside out, the freak slow bowler is not only the tough competitor and the ultimate team man.         

“I am very fortunate to call Murali my friend,” said captain Kumar Sangakkara.

“To me the most impressive thing about him is just him—his personality, his values, his beliefs, and his greatest contribution not only to the Sri Lankan team, but also to Sri Lankan society.”

‘Charity begins at home’. Murali seems to have believed this always.

His manager Kushil Gunasekera said the spinner is a ‘real human being’ who is warm-hearted, generous, humble and caring. He said Murali is deeply dedicated to and united with his and his extended family.

What about his other ‘family’—the Sri Lanka cricket team.

“He would bring dinner to the debutant, and play cards (with young ones) till late in the night,” Sangakkara said. Few senior players in the world would do those things. When a veteran like Murali accepts young ones in such a way, no doubt they would feel at home and perform well.

Everyone knows that Murali is a tough competitor and likes to play for his country. But how far will he go in this respect?

“We were in Brisbane, where we were playing Australia a few years back,” Sangakkara recalled. “Murali chased the ball to the boundary line and strained his groin. The crowd at that section mocked him. I think they were happy that Murali was injured which meant that he couldn’t bowl to their batsmen.

“Murali came back to the crease and all he said was ‘give me the ball’.

We said, ‘you are injured. You should go off the field’. Murali just said ‘give me the ball I have two more overs to bowl’." That’s Murali.

Sangakkara said Murali is a shining example at a time when people talk of cricketers as greedy and money hungry ones who don’t think about the country.

“He is earning a fraction of what other cricketers earn (in the world),” Sangakkara said of Murali. Although his senior, Murali is earning something similar to what he is getting, the captain pointed out. But the champion never complains, never grumbles.

“For him the greatest joy was playing. He wanted to win; everything he did was never for himself,” Sangakkara said.

“He enjoyed the journey; played with a smile. He often bowls a brilliant ball and follows it with a smile.”

Forget cricket and his records, Murali’s smile has brightened the lives of thousands of innocent, poor helpless people in Sri Lanka.

The champion sprang into action in the aftermath of 2004 tsunami. He used his high profile image to collect funds round the world. Together with his manager (through the Foundation of Goodness) the spinner built a housing scheme (and other facilities including play grounds) in Seenigama in the south.

And at present they are building 1000 houses for war victims in the north. The president has given him 50 acres in Mankulam. (Please see http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org for details).

Many, including his team members turn to Murali for various help, Gunasekera said.

“They all know he will not disappoint them.”

But all these things don’t come to the media spotlight, as Murali doesn’t like publicity.

However, Murali ruled out a political career for himself. One doesn’t need to get into party politics to serve people, he said.

The spinner counts Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims and Burghers among his friends.

If there is any misunderstanding between the people of the Sinhala and Tamil communities it is the creation of power hungry politicians, the ace spinner boldly declared.

“Murali brought Sri Lanka together,” Sangakkara said.

“He inspired 20 million people and put Sri Lanka in the world map. He is a true champion.”

Muttiah Muralitharan indeed is a TRUE CHAMPION.