25 March 2024 last updated at 19:12 GMT
 
1996 World Cup win was great: Murali
Thursday 09 June 2011

Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan has done it all during his glorious international career. The recently-retired spinner is more than happy with his decision to quit the game after the World Cup, even though he feels he could have carried on playing for another 3 years.

"I could have gone on for another two or three years but I wanted to quit while in a good position and retire at a peak rather than on a downward turn," Murali told ICC Cricket World Radio Show.

The 39-year-old finished as the highest wicket-taker in both forms of the game, but Murali feels the time was right for youngsters in the Sri Lankan team to step up and make the grade.

"I thought it was a right time to give the youngsters like Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv and Rangana Herath an opportunity. They are all itching for their chances because I have been playing for the last 18 years. I got my chance at 19 and now it's their turn," Murali said.

Muralitharan has a load of accolades to his name, but the spinner rates the World Cup win in 1996 as the highlight of his career.

"World Cup win in 1996 was the biggest thing in Sri Lanka and we proved we could play good cricket and more teams came to play against us," he concluded.

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