Muralitharan, speaking to reporters after signing up with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) here, said he was adamant not to tour Australia but would visit the country later as a tourist.

Muralitharan, with a world-record 527 Test wickets to his credit, confirmed Tuesday he would boycott the tour after Australian Prime Minister John Howard had called him a 'chucker'.

"I have no hatred towards the Australian people," he said.

When asked about Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne's remarks describing him as 'thin-skinned' for opting out of the tour, Muralitharan said: "It is easy for them to say that. Only I know what I have gone through."

"Cricketers can say anything. Whatever I have achieved today, it has been with great difficulty."

His letter seeking to be excused from the tour for 'personal reasons' was accepted by Sri Lanka Cricket at an emergency meeting.

Cricket sources here said Muralitharan feared he could be called for 'chucking' during the Australian tour. His unorthodox bowling action has seen him being no-bowled during previous tours of that country.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play two Test matches in Australia in July.

The 32-year-old cricketer said he was also joining a walk in Colombo Sunday to raise money to help feed children in remote areas of the island's north and east.

"I already have a foundation of my own helping the needy, but I am also very happy to associate myself with the WFP," Muralitharan said.

Meanwhile, some cricket fans appear to be as concerned about the love life of the world's top test wicket-taker, as they are about his game.

A matchmaking website features a purported profile of the Sri Lankan off-spinner, an ethnic Tamil who is single and has said in the past he has no immediate plans for marriage.

"International Cricketer Muralitharan looking for a life partner," it reads. "Interested?" Then it lists several castes from which he find a suitable partner.

But Muralitharan said he had not taken to cyberspace to seek a bride, and the ad at

www.tamilmatrimony.com must be a joke.

"It's not true," he said.

"It must just be people making fun."