Daily NEWS Srilanka

World-renown cricketer Mutthiah Muraltharan who was curbed with the accusation 'traitor' by cricket authority-politicians because he consented to coach Australian cricketers has been subjected to exceptional international recognition with all those obstacles being turned into blessings. Which in fact is that it has been announced yesterday that he has been included in the list of names of distinguished members of the International Cricket Council.

This happens to be the first occasion when a Sri Lankan cricketer has been named in this manner and it is understood that it is not possible for someone else to etch his name against this list. It indeed is a great pride for him to be honourably recognised for the Sri Lankans and for Muralitharan to be accepted as the first player to have passed the 1000 wicket limit in international games. It is a stroke of fate to receive news of an exceptional award like this at a time when derogatory stories are being circulated against him. Sri Lankan cricket authorities who made empty comments about Murali have been made speechless with this award and its official website incidentally has published an announcement of greetings for for him just for some hours after which it had been removed, it was reported.