Vaas and Randiv called up as injury cover for WC final !

Injury concerns over Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews have forced the Sri Lankan team to call up Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv as standbys ahead of the World Cup final against India on April 2. Vaas and Randiv will reach Mumbai on Thursday evening, and will be available for an emergency swap into the side if necessary, pending approval from the ICC.


Muralitharan has struggled with niggles through the course of the tournament, including a hamstring injury, a side strain, a troublesome knee and a groin issue. There was speculation that he would be rested for the semi-final against New Zealand in a bid to allow him time to be fully fit for the final. Muralitharan, however, played in the semi-final in Colombo, despite not being in the best physical condition. The final, if he plays in it, will be Muralitharan's last international game.


Trevor Bayliss, the team's coach, was confident about Muralitharan's availability for the game. "Chances are good that Murali will play," he said. "He completed ten overs in the semi-final, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort."


Mathews left the field during the semi-final with a minor injury to the thigh when Sri Lanka were fielding, and was visibly hampered for movement when he later came out to bat with a runner. Mathews has played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's campaign, both as a back-up seamer and in the middle order, and his versatility will be tough to substitute.


Left-arm seamer Vaas, 37, last played an last international game in July 2009, and hasn't featured in an ODI since August 2008. He was contemplating retirement following his omission from the original World Cup squad. Offspinner Randiv was a regular member of Sri Lanka's limited-overs' side last year, but missed out on a World Cup spot to Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis, who were picked ahead of him as the spinners to support Muralitharan.


But What we hope is that both Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews will be fit to play as they are the most valuable players (other than Kumar, Mahela and Lasith Malinga) that no body could ever do what they contribute as a player to the team.