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Murali on loan, for two months only

David Lloyd, coach of England's cricket team, might think he chucks, but Lancashire county officials don't agree.

In fact, the county officials disagree so violently that they have been looking at Murali to replace no less than Wasim Akram, as their overseas professional, next season.

Hitch, however, being that Sri Lanka's cricket board can release Murali -- the team's premier and, indeed in the opinion of some, only strike bowler -- for only about two months after the World Cup.

Come August, Sri Lanka is slated to tour Australia for three Tests and a four-nation one day competition. Lanka will then take on Zimbabwe over three Tests and an equal number of one-day internationals.

And for neither of these engagements will the board countenance leaving Murali out of the squad. "At best, we can release him for two months after the World Cup,'' Dammika Ranatunga, chief executive of the Board of Control for Cricket, told news agencies today.

The official comment came after news reports from Manchester, England that Muralitharan has signed a one-year contract to play for Lancashire.

Other Sri Lankan cricket officials said the board is yet to formally communicate its decision to release Muralitharan. He is the leading bowler in international cricket, with 68 wickets thus far this year.

"My goal is to improve my bowling further and also to improve my fielding, and I am sure playing in England will help in attaining both,'' Murali had said, when contacted on telephone.

"I want to polish my bowling to a level that I can achieve my goal of getting 300 Test wickets,'' the 26-year-old said.

He is the first Sri Lankan, and the 24th bowler in cricket, to claim 200 Test wickets. He has thus far played 42 Tests.