Muttiah Muralitharan is on his way to Old Trafford - and that's official.

After weeks of anxious waiting, Lancashire today received the go-ahead from the Sri Lankan cricket board to use the spin master this summer.

The news came in a fax from Sri Lanka's chief executive Dammita Ranatunga.

Murali will link up with Lancashire as soon as Sri Lanka's interest in the World Cup is over. If they reach the Lord's final, he will not make his championship debut until June 29 in the home game with Essex.

As he is due to return to Sri Lanka for their series with the Aussies in early September he might only be available for five championship matches, but Lancashire believe that he could still make a massive difference to their title bid.

Lancashire snapped up Murali after his 16 wickets demolition of England at the Oval last September, but have had to wait for Sri Lanka's official consent.

The Red Rose club reckon he will be a big crowd-puller. Murali is one of the world's top bowlers, and the most controversial after being no-balled for throwing in Australia last January.

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