Wellington, Apr 3 (PTI) : Just-retired Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is all set to play for domestic side Wellington after drawing curtains on his international career in the World Cup final. 

 
Muralitharan, the all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs, has promised former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming that he will play two seasons for Wellington which will start with the HRV Cup this summer, according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.

The 38-year-old off-spinner retired from international cricket yesterday after Sri Lanka lost to India by six wickets in the summit clash of the World Cup in Mumbai.

"Stephen has a bit to do with Wellington, so I have promised him I would come to play for two years to help them," Muralitharan was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
However, he was not certain when a deal would be signed with the provincial side.

"I don't know. It's up to Stephen to put through a deal for me. I've always enjoyed playing there. You have nice, friendly people and a competitive (international) cricket team given you made the (World Cup) semi-finals again," Muralitharan said.

Muralitharan and Fleming share a good bond since their association with the Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings.

While Murali played for Super Kings in the first three editions of the IPL, Fleming was the coach of the Chennai side in the past two seasons.

However, Murali will play for new entrant Kochi in the fourth edition of IPL this year.

"He is a great man and a great coach. He understands players and is an intelligent coach and captain with so much knowledge to pass on. At Chennai we would chat a lot, mostly as friends," Muralitharan said of Fleming.

"It is a shame I could not go back there; he wanted me desperately and I wanted to return, but that's the way the auction goes," he added.