From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 01:30 AM IST

Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan will be available to play for Bengal in the upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy.

The Cricket Association of Bengal's efforts to get the services of the bowling legend for the state team, which has been demoted to the Plate Division of the tournament, bore fruit Monday when Sri Lanka Cricket chief Duleep Mendis faxed a message saying Muralitharan will be available to turn out for Bengal in the upcoming season.

'Murali is now available to play for Bengal. Further details will come later,' CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya said here Monday.

Dalmiya said the Indian board's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty has also cleared Muralitharan's participation for Bengal.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)