Hero146;s welcome for Murali

Muttiah Muralitharan was given a hero8217;s welcome when he returned home as the highest wicket-taker in Test history on Thursday. Muralith...

Muttiah Muralitharan was given a hero8217;s welcome when he returned home as the highest wicket-taker in Test history on Thursday. Muralitharan8217;s arrival in Sri Lanka was broadcast live on national television and a host of politicians, sports administrators, family members and close friends flocked to pay tribute to the bowler.

8220;I8217;m very happy to have achieved this record for the country,8221; Muralitharan said. 8220;It8217;s a huge honour and I am very grateful for all the support I have received. Everyone has done so much for me.8221;

The 32-year-old was garlanded as he stepped into the VIP airport arrivals lounge and mobbed by the media, before being escorted by motorcade to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board headquarters in central Colombo.

Lanka prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse said on Sunday that he was considering suing the ICC over the ban on Murali8217;s 8216;doosra8217; delivery that has come under the scanner.

Muralitharan is due to meet with Rajapakse on Thursday night for dinner with a team of lawyers to discuss the controversy.

Rajapakse today also held closed-door talks with Indian ambassador, Nirupam Sen, seeking support for suing the ICC over its decision to ban Muttiah Muralitharan8217;s 8216;doosra8217;.

Afterwards, Sen told reporters that Murali is a 8220;pride and pleasure8221; for the Indians as well and that New Delhi was keen to back the Sri Lankan player.

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Sri Lanka, who in Zimbabwe won the two-Test series 2-0 and the one-day series 5-0, start a two-Test tour of Australia in June. But Muralitharan, unhappy about Australian Prime Minister John Howard8217;s comments over his bowling action, has said he may boycott the tour.

Sri Lanka8217;s sports minister Jeewan Kumaratunga announced that the government would soon be launching a postage stamp to commemorate his achievements.

The public celebrations will continue on a Saturday when he will be paraded through the streets of Kandy.