COLOMBO: Sri Lanka was sweating over the World Cup final fitness of Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews Thursday as 37-year-old seamer Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv were called up as cover. “Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Angelo) Mathews,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement. Vaas, 37 and Randiv, 26, were due to fly out to Mumbai later Thursday ahead of Saturday's title match against India. Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month, has played through the six-week tournament despite suffering hamstring and groin injuries, a side strain and a troublesome knee. But coach Trevor Bayliss insisted Thursday that Muralitharan, who will retire after Saturday's final, will play against India. “Chances are good that Murali will play,” said Bayliss. “He completed 10 overs in the semifinal, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort.” All-rounder Mathews, 23, picked up a right-side strain while fielding during Tuesday's semifinal win against New Zealand. Sri Lanka, 1996 winner and 2007 finalist, wants to win the cup for legendary spinner Muralitharan who will retire after a world record haul of 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets. Vaas, who was part of the 1996 winning team, retired from Tests in July with 322 Test and 400 one-day wickets. He last played an international when India toured Sri Lanka in August 2008, taking the wicket of Yuvraj Singh for a duck. Randiv, who made his one-day debut against India in 2009, has taken 22 ODI wickets. He last played when Sri Lanka toured Australia for a one-day series last year. Regarding probable replacements Bayliss said: “We have asked for them just to be on the safe side, but Muralitharan and Mathews will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness,” the coach said. Bayliss was confident Sri Lanka had a good chance to win its second World Cup title. “We have played good cricket through the tournament and have done well against India in the past,” he said. “The pressure will be on India since they are playing at home, but we are familiar with the conditions in Mumbai.” While India will be playing at the refurbished 33,000-capacity Wankhede stadium for the first time, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 112 runs in a league matcha at the ground on March 18. Sri Lanka has prevailed in recent one-dayers against India, winning six of the 10 matches played last year in Dhaka, Harare, Bulawayo and Dambulla. But India has won five of seven matches against the Islanders on home soil over the last five years. – Agence France
