Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the first cricket test against Pakistan starting from tomorrow at Galle international stadium.
Team manager Brendon Kuruppu told reporters that Murali has picked up a knee injury and has been asked to rest for a while. Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said he was hopeful that Muralitharan will be available for the second match from July 12. The series starts just 13 days after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the world twenty20 at lord's in London on June 21. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets. Muralitharan's absence will hurt Sri Lanka, who have never beaten Pakistan in a home test series and are hoping to avenge their defeat in last month's world twenty20 final. Of their five series in Sri Lanka so far, Pakistan have won three -- including the last two in 2000 and 2006 -- and drawn the other two. Of the 19 home tests Sri Lanka have played in the last five years, they have won 13, drawn four and lost just two -- one of them to Pakistan by eight wickets in Kandy in April 2006. The teams are also scheduled to play five one-day internationals and a twenty20 match after the tests.
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