World Cup venue to be named after Muralitharan

A new cricket stadium being built for next year's World Cup will be named after the world's most successful bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, a report said on Friday.

The 22,000-capacity stadium, being constructed in Pallekele in Muralitharan's home district of Kandy, is due to host three matches of the World Cup in South Asia in February-March.

The Central Provincial Council in Kandy decided to name the venue as the Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium to honour the recently retired spinner, the Daily Mirror said.

The move had the backing of the provincial governor, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, and will be put to Sri Lanka Cricket shortly, the newspaper said.

Muralitharan, 38, quit Test cricket last week after reaching the unprecedented 800-wicket mark during the first Test against India in Galle.

He is also the leading wicket-taker in one-day cricket with 515 scalps and said he will be available for the World Cup if needed.

The matches in Pallekele are Pakistan v New Zealand on March 8, Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe on March 10 and Pakistan v Zimbabwe on March 14.

Sri Lanka, which co-hosts the showpiece tournament with India and Bangladesh, is due to organise 12 matches at three venues.

The other venues are the under-renovation Premadasa stadium in Colombo and a new cricket facility being built in Hambantota in the island's south.