Uncapped Sri Lanka spinner to replace Muralitharan

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricket selectors on Saturday picked uncapped off spinner Dilruwan Perera to replace the injured Muttiah Muralitharan in the ICC World Twenty-20 championships in South Africa.   

"It is with regret we inform our cricket fans that Muttiah Muralitharan has been compelled to pull out of the Twenty-20 World Cup squad due to an injury," a Sri Lanka Cricket statement issued here said.   

"Dilruwan Perera will be joining the Sri Lanka squad as a replacement for the ICC Twenty 20 World Cup 2007," said the governing body of the sport here.   

Muralitharan on Wednesday was ruled out of playing in the inaugural championship after suffering an elbow injury. He was said to have torn a tendon on his right bicep, according to his Manager Kushil Gunasekera.   

Perera, 25, was picked for Sri Lanka 'A' tour to England in the current season on the advice of Muralitharan who was impressed with Perera's arm ball.   

He has previously toured Australia at under 19 level before being picked for Sri Lanka "A" representation.   

The World Twenty20 championship is to be played in South Africa from September 11-24.