Muralitharan refutes Ranatunga's 2011 World Cup final match-fixing claims

Mumbai: Sri Lanka cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan completely denied allegations of match-fixing made by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, saying that there were no instructions to lose the 2011 World Cup final against India.

Speaking to Santosh Menon on the chat show called Chat-athon, the 45-year-old Muralitharan said, "India’s was the best team and ours was the second best team in the tournament.”

Muralitharan further went on to state that injuries sustained by both himself and all-rounder Angelo Mathews were the main reason behind Sri Lanka’s loss in the final against India at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai.

“We had a good opportunity to win in the final, but two things happened. I had a groin injury in the semi final and Angelo Mathews, who was among runs was completely out (final) because he was injured,” said Muralitharan. "The batsmen were scoring runs but the middle order batsmen didn't click in few matches and the selectors made 3-4 changes and it was far than a regular team.

"(On winning the toss) the senior players and the selectors were scared of chasing the target and thought of batting first. But in my mind was to bat second because I thought India could chase any target and this was intimated to the team-management. This I had told to them with my previous tour experience of dew factor," he said. "But Sanga said he has been promised by the match referee that they would spray the chemicals and no dew threat to the final."

Murali further went on to state that dew was a major factor for the Sri Lankan players on that fateful night at the Wankhede Stadium.

"Within 15 overs dew came and they could do nothing. There was no match-fixing but Mathews' injury, miscalculation (on dew factor) cost us the World Cup final,” he said. “But we can't take away credit from India."