Cricket World Cup Special

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka — Muttiah Muralitharan’s lap of honour at the World Cup makes a stop in his hometown on Thursday when Sri Lanka takes on Zimbabwe in a Group A match in a new stadium on the outskirts of Kandy.

The leading wicket taker in both test and limited-overs cricket is retiring after the World Cup, and is desperate to help Sri Lanka win the quadrennial tournament for a second time.