Kolkata: Legendary Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is in the City of Joy for Vision 2020 programme which is conducted by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to help their state cricketers to do well in the forthcoming Ranji Trophy season. Along with the legendary Indian batsman VVS Laxman, Murali spent the whole day with Manoj Tiwary and co.
“It’s going really well. The team is preparing for the Ranji Trophy and U-23 tournaments,” Muralitharan told the reporters.
Manoj’s men will play two practice games later this month against defending champions Gujarat. According to the legendary bowler it will help the bowlers to be mentally ready ahead of the season and it would show who is in form and who needs to do more work to get in form.
“It is helpful to play practice matches before any tournament as we can see which are the players who are in form,” he said.
Murali didn’t give any reaction on the recently concluded India’s tour of Sri Lanka, saying he has no reaction regarding this matter. The Lankans faced a humiliating 9-0 defeat against Kohli & co. over
Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan on Thursday refused to comment on the just-concluded India’s tour to Sri Lanka, saying he has “no reaction” to give after the islanders gave a horrible account of themselves, losing 9-0 over three Tests, five ODIs and one-off T20 international.
“Reaction? No reaction. As far as India-Sri Lanka series is concerned, I have nothing to say,” Muralitharan told reporters here.
India lorded over the hosts on all fronts in the past one and half months, becoming the first visiting team to whitewash a home side 9-0 in a tour comprising of all three formats.
The 45-year old, who has taken 800 Test wickets and has 534 ODI scalps, refused to comment on the issue of left-arm tweaker Pragyan Ojha who has not been given a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the CAB but is still to join Bengal practice.
“I am here to coach these guys. I don’t know what happened between them (CAB and Ojha). I can’t comment on that. Bengal have replacements for Ojha. He is an experienced bowler but we have other good young bowlers.”