The ace off-spinner left as the 15th player of the team for Sharjah yesterday, where India and Zimbabwe are the other participating countries in the eight-day tournament.
Muralitharan is nursing a bruised right shoulder which he sustained while fielding in the mini World Cup semi-final game against South Africa in Dhaka last Friday. The nature of the injury is such that it has to heal naturally.
According to Sri Lanka Cricket Board sources, Muralitharan will be under treatment in Sharjah from team physio Alex Kountouri and his progress will be monitored closely. If by chance he makes good recovery, Muralitharan is likely to play in the latter matches in the tournament.
The Cricket Board has successfully got permission from the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) chief organiser Asif Iqbal to use more than 14 players for the tournament.
Muralitharan's presence in the squad as the 15th player (only 14 are usually allowed for a tournament) will bear no extra cost to the Cricket Board.
While Muralitharan recovers, promising off-spinner Tilan Samaraweera of Colts gets his big break to make his debut in international cricket. If he plays in the big time league, he will join his elder brother Duleep Samaraweera, who represented his country in both Tests and one-day internationals in the early nineties.
Sri Lanka play their first match of the tournament tomorrow when they meet India. All matches in the tournament are night games.