03 April,2011 07:57 AM IST | | Sai Mohan
A last minute effort from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials ensured that retiring legend Muttiah Muralitharan's family members were all present during the World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
Initially, Muralitharan's four-year-old son Naren, a big cricket buff, was to be left back in the hotel as there was a major shortage of tickets.
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All Sri Lankan players flew in their wives for the World Cup final. Originally, 4,000 tickets were to be issued by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to SLC. However, sources in the Lankan camp said that fewer tickets were issued to them.
Muralitharan's wife Madhimalar received only one ticket. She had wanted to bring along her Mumbai-based friends but could not do so.
"Very excited by the occasion. I got only one ticket, my request for two extra tickets was turned down as there was a shortage of tickets. I was very disappointed when I learnt this," Madhimalar told MiD DAY.
"Still, I am here to support my husband, he deserves a grand farewell," she added.
An ICC official said that it was the responsibility of the MCA to allot tickets.
"The tickets we received from MCA were given away to the sponsors and other dignitaries. It's not our responsibility to hand over tickets to SLC, players' wives, or any other spectators from Sri Lanka," he said.
In all, an estimated 250 Sri Lankan fans witnessed the final.
