Sri Lankan cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan is set to play a different innings as Governor of Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated Northern Province by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The 47-year-old ace spinner, the record holder for highest wickets in Test cricket (800), is among the three new governors tipped to be appointed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who registered a thumping victory in the 16 November presidential elections.
President Rajapaksa had personally invited Muralitharan to accept the post.
Muralitharan married Madhimalar Ramamurthy, a Chennai native, in March 2005. He was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002. He retired from Test cricket in 2010.