Murali passes the 'test'

Sri Lanka's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who was worried about Britain's new visa regulations, has secured a work permit to play county cricket, his manager said today.

Sri Lanka's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who was worried about Britain's new visa regulations, has secured a work permit to play county cricket, his manager said today.

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Kushil Gunasekera said the British authorities had expedited his visa as he had to leave for India on Wednesday to play in the IPL before heading off to join Gloucestershire in June.

"He wishes to thank the British authorities for quickly issuing him with a visa," Gunasekera told. The British gesture came after Murali told reporters that he feared facing examinations and using computers to lodge his work permit application online.

Gutted
"We're gutted," Murali said about Sri Lanka's defeat by India in the WC final. "God does not give everything," he added.