England must prove themselves in India and Sri Lanka before laying claim to No1 spot says Muttiah Muralitharan

England return to the five-day game for the first time since their glorious Ashes tour, determined to earn the right to be called the best Test-playing nation on the planet.

But Muralitharan, who took 800 Test wickets before his retirement last year - and removed an English batsman 112 times - believes Andrew Strauss' men need to prove themselves in countries such as Sri Lanka and India before they can claim to be the best.

''I think they are good in England, but on the sub-continent they are not that good,'' he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

''They had a brilliant win in the Ashes but other than that they haven't done many great things in the sub-continent.

''They have to improve on the sub-continent, beating sides from the sub-continent in the sub-continent. They have to beat Sri Lanka and India in their conditions.''

Muralitharan has acknowledged the brilliance of England spinner Graeme Swann, but feels they will be unable to conquer the Asian sides on their own patch unless they can find a spin twin to go alongside the Nottinghamshire man.

''At the moment they have a lovely spinner in Graeme Swann, but they need one more spinner to be fighting in the sub-continent because it's difficult with one,'' he said.

''In the sub-continent you need two good spinners. I think Graeme Swann is world class but they need another one.''

Sri Lanka's attack is somewhat different to the one that last toured England in 2006, with Muralitharan having retired completely, and the dangerous Lasith Malinga also calling time on his Test career.

Malinga cited a need to preserve his fitness as the reason why he will only play one-day cricket in future, and Muralitharan has backed his former team-mate's decision.

He said: ''I think he was struggling for the last two or three years with his knee. He only played one match last year.

''He thinks his career is over in Test cricket and he can play one-day cricket until the next World Cup and I feel it's a wise choice for him to do that.

''I think his body would not take it because he had a very bad knee.''

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Pakistan's Zulqarnain Haider 'set to withdraw UK asylum claim'

The former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider is reportedly set to withdraw his application for asylum, more than six months after fleeing to the UK following alleged death threats from illegal betting syndicates.

The Pakistan newspaper The News quoted a letter written by Haider to the home secretary, Theresa May, days after his brother Aqeel was quoted in the Pakistan Daily Mail saying that the interior minister Rehman Malik had given assurances over the safety of his family.

Haider reportedly wrote: "In light of the assurances that I have received, I feel that I no longer need sanctuary in the UK and have accordingly decided to withdraw my claim for asylum. I am aware that my asylum claim remains outstanding and has not been determined as yet. I am particularly thankful to the Scotland Yard for providing me excellent security and for remaining in regular contact with me to ensure my well-being."

In November of last year, Haider made an unexpected departure to the UK midway through a one-day series against South Africa, citing threats from underworld betting syndicates over fixing matches in that series. After claims that he would expose elements of fixing within Pakistan cricket, he announced his retirement from international cricket – having played one Test and four ODIs – prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to impose a life ban. However, Haider says his actions were aimed only at encouraging policy change at a time when international opinion over Pakistan's handling of match-fixing was at its lowest.

The letter continued: "Anything that I have ever said has been aimed at bringing improvements and reforms to the board, not only to ensure greater professionalism and a commitment to transparency but in order that the board fulfil the rightful expectations of the nation."

Aqeel had hinted at a return to cricket for the wicketkeeper when he said earlier: "Now my brother will return to the country and will sit with the PCB officials and discuss about his future. If he is assured of his 'safe' place in the team, Zulqarnain is ready to revoke his retirement decision."

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