Karachi (IANS): Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has hailed Muttiah Muralitharan for breaking his record of highest wickets in one-day internationals, saying that the Sri Lanka off-spinner deserves the achievement.

'It's great to know that a bowler of Murali's calibre has surpassed me as the highest wicketer in one-dayers,' Akram said Thursday after Murali collected his record 503rd wicket in one-dayers in the fourth ODI against India in Colombo. 

'When I achieved that record I knew there was only one bowler capable of breaking it and that was Murali,' added the former Pakistan left-arm pacer. 

Murali, 36, dismissed India opener Gautam Gambhir for his 503rd victim. He also holds the world record in Test cricket with 769 wickets in 125 matches. 

The Sri Lankan achieved the one-day feat in his 328th match, while Akram's haul came in 356 games before he quit international cricket in 2003. 

Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is the only other player to hold two major world records - highest scorer in Tests (12,429) and one-day internationals (16,440).

Courtesy: Yahoo.com