Wellington Cricket signs up Muralitharan for T20

Wellington Cricket has confirmed the signing of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for next season’s HRV Cup Twenty20 competition.

Speculation has been rife for weeks that the 39-year-old was heading to the capital to honour a commitment he made to former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming to play for Wellington.

Muralitharan spent two seasons at the Chennai Indian Premier League franchise, where Fleming is coach, before moving to Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the 2011 competition.  “I’ve always enjoyed my time in New Zealand and it is a fantastic country to tour and to play cricket in,” said the Sri Lankan off-spinner. “I look forward to helping the Wellington Firebirds to success in next season’s HRV Cup.”

Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen was delighted to bolster the Firebirds bowling attack.

“It’s a tremendous boost for Wellington to secure the services of one of the greatest international cricketers of all time,” said Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen. “He is a superb cricketer and a great ambassador for the game.”

Muralitharan retired from Test cricket as the world record holder for most Test wickets (800 in 133 Tests). He brought the curtain down on all international cricket following the World Cup final defeat to India in April.

He took 534 wickets in 350 one-day internationals and 13 wickets in 12 Twenty20 games for Sri Lanka. (Sportal)