WORLD leading Test wicket taker, Muttiah Muralitharan will grace the 2008 KAF International Youth Cricket tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 24-26 as the guest of honour in a special treat for competing teams.

Cricket fans, who fancy striking a boundary against the Sri Lankan bowler, will also get a chance to face Muralitharan, 36, on Oct 26 in Bukit Kiara for three balls at a cost of RM500, the proceeds of which will go to Muralitharan's Foundation of Goodness and another charity designated by sponsors KAF Investment Bank.

Malaysian national senior and junior bowlers, sorely in need of expert help, will hope to pick up a few pointers when Muralitharan imparts some of his knowledge during a special clinic.

Muralitharan, who has taken 756 wickets in 123 Test matches, will also attend a fund raising dinner on Oct 25 at the Royal Selangor Club.

The Under-15 tournament is jointly organised by the Federal Territory Cricket Association (FTCA) and Royal Selangor Club and has attracted 20 club and cricket academy teams from Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, an increase on the 16 teams who featured last year.
Each team will consist eight players with each inning lasting eight overs. The preliminary round will take place at Kinrara Oval, Bayuemas Oval, Selangor Turf Club and Royal Selangor Club (RSC) in Bukit Kiara.

Tournament organiser Devindran Ramanathan said Muralitharan has expressed great interest in watching the junior players in action.

"We have been working for almost a year to get him to come and even (former Bangladesh coach) Dav Whatmore, who was the guest last year had many good things to say to him about this tournament," said Devindran yesterday.

"I have spoken to Muralitharan and he said he is looking forward to coming here. We have also received the Sri Lankan Cricket Board's approval as there are no international matches involving Sri Lanka at that time."

The tournament, now in its second year, is gaining in popularity as it looks to play a major role in junior development efforts.

"We were very pleased with the tournament last year, particularly as it was targeted at junior development and we are happy to be associated with the tournament for a second year," said KAF Investment Bank chief executive officer Thariq Usman Ahmad said in a statement.

"Of course, we are also pleased that Muttiah Muralitharan will be attending as a special guest and it is fantastic for all to be associated with such a great cricketer."

Football, hockey, rugby and cricket clinics will also be held on the sidelines of the tournament in addition to the staging of a paintball competition and the installation of Formula One simulators to keep competitors and fans occupied throughout the three-day carnival.

"This is a real opportunity for the whole cricket community in Malaysia and regionally to put their development programmes to the test in a competition at a world class ground," said FTCA president Wilfred Abraham.

The event is open to the public but tickets for the fund raiser, where Muralitharan will be speaking and signing autographs, can be obtained from Bala at 019-224 5484 or Suresh at 012-3052427.