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Rajapaksa hosts reception for team

R.K. Radhakrishnan

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted a reception for the country's cricket team that was runner-up at the World Cup at his residence, Temple Trees, on Monday.

Mr. Rajapaksa handed over a memento to each of the players.

He presented Muttiah Muralitharan with a special plaque with a red cricket ball “for the invaluable services to Sri Lanka cricket and achieving unprecedented milestones in his cricketing career and for bringing glory and fame to our motherland.”

Proud of you

Mr. Rajapaksa told the team that he was proud of all of them and that he and all cricket lovers in the country were happy with the performance of the team.

Later, asked about the Indian victory, he said: “One team in blue won… The best team won and we have to accept it,” he said.

On the future of the game in the country, especially in the Tamil-dominated Northern province, the President said that Muralitharan was planning to set up a school and academy in Mangulam.

The government would support his effort and also launch initiatives across the country.

Tight schedule

The Sri Lankan players leave in two days to take part in the Indian Premier League.

“Yes, it is a tight schedule. But that's the way it is,” said captain Kumar Sangakkara.

Asked about his selection as the captain of the World XI by the ICC at the conclusion of the World Cup, he said that it was a great honour.

A privilege

“It is a privilege. At the end of the day, how you play the game matters,” he said.

Vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene did not seem a contented man.

“I would any day have settled for a score of 10 or 20 if we had won the Cup,” he said.

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