Muralitharan to fly home for family funeral

LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan is to fly home to Kandy following the death of his aunt, interrupting preparations for the first test against England, his team manager said today.

''He is flying out tonight but will return on Sunday,'' Michael Tissera told Reuters.

The spinner who has taken 611 wickets in 103 tests, captured four in a warm-up game against Derbyshire last week. He will miss Sri Lanka's final preparation game at Worcester before the first of three tests starts at Lord's next Thursday.

Muralitharan, 34, was very close to his aunt and wanted to attend the funeral, Tissera said.

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