MURALI SLAMS SL BOARD over its decision to recall players from the IPL

Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan has slammed the country's cricket board over its decision to recall players from the IPL to prepare for the tour to England.

Muralitharan, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup, said the player's had been given a No Objection Certificate to play in the IPL till May 20. Sri Lanka cricket has asked the players to return on May 5.

"I think the board has given them permission till May 20. I don't know what happened suddenly. The players were told to come on May 5. It is the fault of SLC because they signed the NOC till May 20 so if they change it to May 5 something must be wrong," Muralitharan, who quit international cricket after the World Cup final early this month, said.

"Players will get demoralised because if they go back on May 5 they play half of the IPL and they are going to miss a lot. SLC should have informed the players earlier, then the IPL franchises would understand and everyone would understand," he said.

Murali also said the friction that could arise from SLC's stance could have serious financial repercussions in the future.

"There'll be a little bit of friction between the board, the players and even the Indian Cricket Board. If the SLC is not going to support them, they are going to miss a lot from India, because when India tours Sri Lanka it is very important and if we are not playing in the Champions League Twenty20 we are going to lose some money. Friendship between India and Sri Lanka will be negative," he said.

"We have 25 million dollars of debt after the World Cup. You don't have to antagonise India because when India comes we make money and survive, so I don't know what's going to happen.

"It might get sorted. These things happen between countries but in the end financially we depend on India, whatever said and done. SLC will have to be careful," he told a television channel.