COLOMBO, Sept 8: Sri Lanka cricket officials have expressed "surprise and disappointment" that off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan missed out at the inaugural ICC awards on Tuesday.

Muralitharan, Test cricket's highest wicket-taker, was nominated for all three major award categories after a prolific year in which he had taken 68 wickets in eight Tests against England, Australia and Zimbabwe.

"We are definitely surprised and all obviously disappointed as Murali was the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket during this period, but it is the people who vote that matter in the end," Sri Lanka Cricket president Mohan de Silva said.

Despite being one of only five players nominated for all three main categories, Muralitharan was then omitted from the World Test XI which was selected by a five-man panel chaired by Richie Benaud.

Australia wrist spinner Shane Warne was included as the specialist spin bowler in the team. "Murali should definitely have been in the World Test XI after his wicket haul during the year - I am very surprised," de Silva added.

"But Murali is a tough competitor and I have no doubt that, when he comes back from injury, he will keep taking wickets and will one day get the recognition he deserves."

Muralitharan, who has taken 532 Test wickets, five more than Australian Warne, will miss the ICC Champions Trophy after having shoulder surgery last month. The 32-year-old is not expected to return to international cricket until Sri Lanka's tour to New Zealand starting in December.

Muralitharan has been dogged by a 'throwing' controversy with his doosra, a special delivery that spins in the opposite direction to his off break, having been reported as suspect in March and later judged to exceed the ICC's tolerance levels. -Reuters