President cheers Murali

22 July 2010 06:20 am - 67 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently at the Galle international cricket stadium cheering on spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who is on the verge of taking his 800th Test wicket in his last Test match.

President Rajapakse presented a memento to the spin wizard and wished him good luck and also wished the Indian players.

Murali will retire from Test cricket today following the end of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka.

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Comments - 67

sandman Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:36 AM

What is so fantastic about this. He would have flown in a public paying Helicopter and back for this and wasted precious money from the tax payers money.

lalith ananda Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:36 AM

Good. But both have to be careful of Dengue mosquitoes too.

Lal Medawatte Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:36 AM

Sanath used to be a great cricketer, but not anymore. He now is a politician, so he does not deserve a grand farewell nor special felicitations similar to what Murali receive today. Sanath will be remembered as a greedy political cricketer or a resentful cricket politician.

kumar Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:30 AM

CONGRATULATIONS MURALI! WE SRILANKANS PROUD OF YOU!

nishV Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:26 AM

oh come on senior. dont be so superstitious

Nizam/Dubai Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:22 AM

Congrats Murali.... great achievement, 800 wickets you deserve it, SriLanka Cricket and the Cricket World will miss you in the tests.....What ever they say or have said...you are a Legend, now onwards test players will take a breath, as you will be not there to bowl for them.... Murali wish you all the best in your future endeavouors.... Cool guy...with a cool smile....

Bird Eye Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:12 AM

He is the President, not just a politician. Let him respect the great cricketer Murali.

Shankar Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:38 AM

Magical Murali.!! Wonderful way to retire. All the best. !!

suwimal Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:37 AM

You taught us not only how to bowl but how to be humble, how to be honest and play in a team and also how to retire while some others showed us how not to be or do any of those things but manipulate.

Kamal Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:45 AM

A great saying. Absolutly correct.

Ratnam Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:29 AM

Murali, Congratulation on your 800th Wicket ! you are the greatest.

sltk2004 Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:23 AM

How can we say he's the best player to be captain? Just because he is very skilled in his area, that does not mean he is equally skilled in other areas. Bowling and captaincy require different approaches and skills. Additional responsibility of being the captain would have diminished his bowling skill also.

Janaka Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:18 AM

Legend, we enjoyed watching you play, all the best man…

Mohamed Azir Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:18 AM

Well Done!!!! Murali
Congratulation on your performance
Excellant work!!!! Great 4 u and ur Country

ground Boy Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:18 AM

What a wonda? When stump decision was turned down by 3rd umpire, for the bowling of other than MURALI, SL crowed cheer (for India?) Did MR joined this cheer party?

Shaik Anwar Ahamath Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:58 AM

I doubt Murali will take up politics, he is much too decent.

AR Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:48 AM

PERFECT TIMING....AND THATS THE WAY TO GO...

Riyadh Camel Thursday, 22 July 2010 01:57 PM

I am confused if the Presidents visit was actually for Mrali's farewell or his welfare ..... my advice beware !

Gordon Rebeira Friday, 23 July 2010 05:27 AM

The greatest bowler of all time. Murali congratulations on your 800 wicket. I live in Australia and I can tell you, the Australians are very jealous, that there spin Wizard Shane Warne, could not beat you. You have made all srilankan cricket lovers very proud today.
Best wishes and good luck in the future.

moomin Friday, 23 July 2010 04:44 AM

proud to have a srilankan like him most valuable player..

Esika Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:50 PM

Heartiest congratulations Murali!

rayna Thursday, 22 July 2010 03:11 PM

Stars are bright when they are shining and not when they are cold and lost their brightness. Farewell Murali ...... our brightest shining star.

garawi Thursday, 22 July 2010 03:01 PM

Even though he is out of Test cricket we can have solace that he still will play in other forms of cricket. Well done maestro! You are a pride to the nation!

Senior Citizen Thursday, 22 July 2010 02:32 PM

And fool the people again by getting reflected glory.

Mahesh Thursday, 22 July 2010 02:30 PM

Agree only with the latter part. First part is utter nonsence

Senior Citizen Thursday, 22 July 2010 02:30 PM

Uncontroversial Bradman averaged 99.96 runs per test. No mean feat. Both he & Murali great in their own areas.

Bluff Bluff Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:42 AM

Good, but those cheers will not motivate him to take up to politics. He is a man of honour and integrity.

Roshan Thursday, 22 July 2010 01:45 PM

Heartiest congratulations & hats off Murall; great achievement of 800 wickets. Best Wishes

tharanga Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:41 AM

well done Murali, we will miss you......if Indian president was here, he too would have come to farewell Murali..

bala sunderam Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:35 AM

Well done Malinga. Crazy bowler. Murali is the best and he knows how to get out of tests ! Sana is greedy of money, time to go & he doesn't get it honey!

Cheers all the way from Zimbabwe, Bala.

Munas Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:32 AM

Congratulation Bro. Murali, you are gentleman & you deserve for 800 wickets.

xlntgson Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:16 AM

Cheers!

navjoti Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:05 AM

Heartiest congradulations master murali .You are the best son of srilanka

Murugesh Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:55 AM

you achieved it.Great Murul.

Rumesh Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:41 AM

Murali is nervous because MR is around. Hope he goes out of the ground for a bit for Murali to get 1 more wicket..

And Murali.. please don't get into politics..

AMICUS Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:52 AM

ALL TRIBUTE TO MURALI, THE ADORABLE CRICKETER BIDDING FAREWELL WITH DIGNITY. PRESIDENT JOINS THE WHOLE NATION TO CHEER HIM BUT HIS VISIT IS NOTHING TO CROW ABOUT AS HE HAS ALL FACILITIES TO FLY OVER THERE.

Enrico Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:52 AM

...I think it is absolutely fantastic that our President has taken the time to be at the Galle International Stadium. After-all, Murali will go down in history as the Greatest ever test bowler and what a fabulous way of honoring him and showing him the Gratitude of the entire nation. 3 cheers to Murali and 3 cheers to MR!

Sunethra Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:49 AM

Ever Shining !

Ajith Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:49 AM

Don't worry Sri Lankan cricket fans.....!!!!! Even if our Great Hero Murali retires, our Great Sana too is a good spinner. He can fill this position in many many years to come.

Ricky Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:48 AM

Hi Guys Don't slay Sana for all and sundry. Just remember his batting feats of the past. He revolutionized one day cricket. May be he just needs the income from cricket to keep him going. Everyone of us have needs & wants to be fulfilled.
Just savor the moment of Murali's Magic.

tha Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:44 AM

The Greatest cricketer ever..................

Siva Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:42 AM

IT IS A SHAME THAT POLITICIANS TRYING TO STEAL THE LIME LIGHT FROM A GREAT SPORTSMAN'S ' GREATEST MOMENT. How low will the politicians go?

Gayan Samarasekara Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:41 AM

Hats off to you, dear Murali, the proud son of Sri Lanka.. You are undoubtedly the all time best cricketer Sri Lanka produced..

mnsmart Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:54 AM

Thank you Mr.President for your timely decision to bid farewell to the all time great Murali. Both of you have set a great example.

malkanthi Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:39 AM

Murali is very wise to leave with dignity.

kingBarnet@pakislad Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:38 AM

Congrats Sri Lanka on the verge of a victory and the bowlers who burn more calories to avoid team draws. It's a pity your Excellency, SL has never been captained by a bowler.

Faqi Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:35 AM

Congratulations Murali - You brought so much honor to our country & to your old school. I only wish you would not retire so soon from test cricket. You are our hero.

Friendz Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:32 AM

doubt if Murali could have written a better script than this one!...picture perfect.

Murali .... you will be missed!

Sirisena Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:27 AM

sana needs to be booted from the team for good.

Rodrigo Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:27 AM

does he ever fail to cease an opportunity???

julitta Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:27 AM

Heartiest Congratulations to our super star cricketer Murali.

You have been a shining example to our younger generation. Your patience , integrity, fortitude and cheerfulness will be remebered in years to come.

Best of luck for a happy future

Tharaka Chanaka Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:24 AM

will sanna get the same treatment...??

Holman Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:56 AM

You are the best, Murali. Best wishes.

ishnai Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:57 AM

Wishing you all the very best of luck for a happy future

Dheen Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:57 AM

A great cricketer who mixed with the other players extremely well. Keep it up and my golden advice to you is never get into politics and tarnish your image that you have build up. All the very best to you in your future endeavours.

Rumesh Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:59 AM

He is and will be the greatest cricketer produced by Sri Lanka. But is he the best ever produced in the world? Not quite sure.

sltk2004 Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:59 AM

Murali should be thankful to His Excellency the President for giving him the correct political leadership for obtaining almost 800 test wickets.

Bhanu Unanbowe Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:59 AM

The greatest leader and the greatest cricketer of Sri Lanka at the Galle esplanade! What a nice incident!!!

Senior Citizen Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:00 AM

HE the Jonah - since he came Murali stuck on 799.

nizar Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:17 AM

WISHES TO ACHIEVE 800 A BIG AND BIG

MK Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:24 AM

Murali is wise! He knows how to leave at the right time... Stars should leave when they in the peak of their career. Unfortunately Sana doesnt know how to do this.

Thush Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:28 AM

The Greatest leader ever produced by Mother Lanka is cheering the Greatest Sportsmen produced by Mother Lanka. What a moment! I wish I was there.

KD Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:30 AM

Politician should not watch cricket?

JUMBOJET Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:35 AM

Legend!! Congratulations Murali.

Louisa Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:36 AM

You are one of a kind & what a legend. Thanks for the memories & all the best for the future.

shanthapriya Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:40 AM

WHY WAS HE NOT GIVEN THE CAPTAINCY. HE IS THE BEST PLAYER TO BE THE CAPTAIN OF SL TEAM. MURALI IS 100 TIMES BETTER TO BE THE CAPTAIL OF SL TEAM THAN BUTTER FINGERED SANGA

Aziz Mohammed Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:40 AM

Good lesson from Murali to Sana & Ranil, who are in the decline stage already, but couldn't figure out it !

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President cheers Murali

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