COLOMBO: Sri Lanka bowling legend Muttiah Muralitharan has undergone a successful heart procedure and was discharged from an Indian hospital on Monday, his family said.

The off-spinner, who turned 49 on Saturday, “went to hospital for a check-up. It was not the result of a heart attack of any such emergency, but the doctors said it would be better to get a stent,” a family member said.

The Apollo Hospital in Chennai said Muralitharan was admitted on Sunday and underwent ‘successful coronary angioplasty with stents’ allowing him to resume normal activity almost immediately.

Muralitharan is part of the coaching staff of Indian Premier League team Sunrisers Hyderabad. He said he would shortly rejoin the team in Chennai after quarantining as per IPL protocols.

Muralitharan is the leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 1,347 victims, including an incredible tally of 800 wickets in Tests. He played for Sri Lanka in 133 Tests, 350 One-day Interna­tionals and 12 Twenty20 Internationals.

“Wishing Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan, who was recently hospitalised for cardiac treatment, a speedy recovery,” cricket’s governing body ICC said in a tweet.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2021