Melbourne: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has refused to be drawn into the row over spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan‘s decision to join Australia’s coaching staff in the three-Test series against the Steven Smith-led side starting on Tuesday in Pallekele. Muralitharan, the world’s highest wicket taker in Test cricket, came under heavy scrutiny on social media for his decision to join the rival camp as a consultant spin bowling coach, with the Sri Lankan press branding him as a ‘traitor’. According to a leading Sri Lanka cricket scribe, the 44-year-old’ decision to work against his home country has caused ‘much murmur within the Sri Lankan cricket team and in cricket circles’. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test at Pallekelle
However, Mathews said on the eve of the opening Test that he had no problem with his former teammate over his decision to help Australian spinners, adding that Muralitharan was entitled to take up job with any team in the world, news.com.au reported. The Sri Lankan captain also stated his side could also avail the services of spin legend Muralitharan in the future. Sri Lanka vs Australia 2016, 1st Test at Pallekele: Preview
Muralitharan had previously worked with Australia as a short-term consultant during the series against Pakistan in the UAE two years ago.
Muralitharan in his defence had said, “If Sri Lanka loses, they [the board] will say it is because of Murali,” he said in a recorded statement which was sent to AFP. ” They have no right to accuse me of being a traitor. Have they done one hundredth of what I have contributed to cricket in Sri Lanka? This is a political game to cover their shortcomings,” he added. “I am being used as a pawn to cover their failings.”
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