Some of the biggest villains in history have embraced charity for other purposes. But for Muralitharan his concern is genuine, writes Paul Weaver.
Australia is where he has had the toughest time. There, in 1995, the umpire Darrell Hair no-balled him for throwing — he was also “no-balled” by the notorious Bay 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground every time he delivered the ball. But the former Australia captain Steve Waugh says: “You would struggle to find a better human being. He possesses an even temperament and a cool clinical demeanour that belies the infectious smile and grotesque facial contortions at the point of delivery. He is great for world cricket.”
After Murali broke the world record, colleagues, past and present, were at pains to pay tribute to the man, as well as the cricketer. His friend, Sidath Wettimuny, now the chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association, said: “He is famous for his charity work. But I know he does a lot of other charity work which he keeps to himself.
“He’s like his bowling, fun and unpredictable. A lovely guy. He’s very emotional, enthusiastic, exciting and excitable. He’s also a very tough guy. He had to be to come through all the onslaughts on his action. He’s the best off-spinner there has ever been, just as Shane Warne is the best leg-spinner.
“I think he will get 800 Test wickets, easy, and then he might target 1000. But by then I think he will be concentrating on Test cricket.”
Murali comes from Kandy, where his father was in confectionery. He wanted to be a fast bowler but Sunil Fernando, the coach enlisted by his mother, looked at his build and encouraged him to take up spin. He went to an independent Catholic school. Chaminda Vaas says: “We’ve been playing together for 18 years. When we first met he was playing for St. Anthony’s College but even then he had this huge off-spinner. Even then I thought he would play for Sri Lanka and break records.”
Move around Sri Lanka, change generations and the story is the same. Aravinda de Silva said: “I feel so proud of him — he’s worked so hard for this. He’s always yapping away in the dressing room, always giving specialist batsmen advice about how they should play. He’s a character but a really friendly guy.”
Kumar Sangakkara says he evokes “a powerful spirit of reconciliation for a polarised nation.” Everywhere you go they adore him.
His close friend and manager, Kushil, probably knows him best. He said: “He is just about the best father I have ever met. Whenever he can be, he is with his son, Naren, who will be two in January. And every time you see Naren he is carrying a bat and ball.
“Aravinda de Silva says he must turn him into a batsman. In the dressing room he is more concerned about youngsters coming into the side than he is about his own performances. He’s the only Tamil in the Sri Lanka team and every time he takes a wicket everybody is smiling and cheering. He unites the country and is a great ambassador.”
On Boxing Day 2004, he almost became a victim of the tsunami disaster. Every year he would travel down from his Colombo home for a prize-giving on behalf of his charity, Foundation of Goodness. He is normally punctual but that day he set off half an hour late. “I don’t know why we set off late this time,” he said. “But if we had been in the car when it hit we would have been washed away.”
The Foundation of Goodness has raised $3.5m (£1.7m) — Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff have donated from their benefit funds — and 600 houses have been built with foundations for 400 more.
“Murali has done some great charity work on behalf of the tsunami disaster,” says Kushil. “But some people forget that he was heavily involved in charity work seven years before the tsunami.”
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