COLOMBO, June 4: World record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan has been named in a 16-man squad to tour Australia this month after threatening to withdraw when Australian Prime Minister John Howard questioned his action.

Muralitharan, 32, who has taken 527 wickets in 90 Tests, has been banned from bowling his doosra by the ICC. He was called throwing by Australian umpires during tours in 1995-6 and 1998-99.

"We have gone on the basis that he is available for the tour but if he decides not to go we won't be replacing him," said chief selector Ashantha De Mel. Russel Arnold and Romesh Kaluwitharana have been recalled after missing the recent Test series against Zimbabwe.

Prasanna Jayawardene and Saman Jayantha and Thilina Kandamby have been axed, while uncapped pacer Lasith Malinga, 20, has been selected for his first tour. Sri Lanka start their tour with a warm-up tie against a Northern Territory CM XI on June 24 before Darwin and Cairns Tests.

Squad: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Samaraweera, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof. -Reuters