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Lancashire hope to finalise a deal to bring back Muttiah Muralitharan before the end of the month.

The cricket committee met at Old Trafford yesterday and although their contract recommendations will now have to go to the general committee on August 1, Lancashire will move immediately on Murali.

The only problem is a South African tour of Sri Lanka scheduled from July to September.

But Murali has been such a massive hit this year, taking 47 wickets in eight championship innings, that Lancashire are set to gamble on him anyway.

``We hope to have something sorted out within a week or so,'' explained cricket secretary Dave Edmundson. The other players under discussion yesterday were captain John Crawley, Mike Atherton, Andy Flintoff, Glen Chapple, Mike Watkinson and Richard Green.

``The cricket committee have made their recommendations, but there is no point speculating because there is still time for things to change,'' added Edmundson.

However, the club remain hopeful of retaining all their stars.