By IANS,
Gros Islet (St.Lucia) : Last year’s finalists Sri Lanka suffered a major blow Monday after off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury.
Muralithran has been advised two to three weeks’ rest, and no replacement has been named yet.
Muralitharan, the team’s vice-captain, injured himself during Friday’s opening match against New Zealand in Guyana, which Sri Lanka lost by two wickets.
“Clinical tests revealed a grade one strain of his right adductor muscle,” team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek said in a statement.
Muralitharan is the leading wicket-taker in Tests and one-dayers and played a crucial part in Chennai Super Kings triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sri Lanka lost their first match against New Zealand and are in a must-win situation against Zimbabwe here Monday.