COLOMBO, Aug 30: Sri Lanka’s prolific spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was on Thursday ruled out of the inaugural World Twenty20 Championships next month due to an elbow injury.

“Murali is affected by an elbow injury and he will be out for four to six weeks,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan said.

Leg-spinner Malinga Bandara is expected to replace Muralitharan in the squad.

SLC sources said Muralitharan complained of muscle pain between his right elbow and shoulder after bowling 30 overs in the English county match for Lancashire against Kent on Wednesday.—AFP