the series while three of the Sri Lankan regulars were rested. He took three wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 35, the lowest score in ODI history. In the final two matches of the series, Maharoof took another wickets, finishing the series with five at an average of 16.60. On the same tour, Maharoof made his Test debut. Across the two matches, he scored 40 runs from one innings and took four wickets at an average of just under 40. Sri Lanka hosted the Indian Oil Cup in July and August 2005; it was a tournament involving the hosts, India, and the West Indies. Ahead of the tournament Chaminda Vaas, one of Sri Lanka's senior seam bowlers, sustained an injury and Maharoof was responsible for opening the bowling with Dilhara Lokuhettige. Maharoof produced one of the most economical bowling displays in ODI history, conceding nine-rune from ten overs against the West Indies for which he was named Man of the Match. He was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for excessive appealing in the match as he began celebrating a dismissal before the batsman had been given out by the umpire. Permanent in the squad When Bangladesh toured for two Tests and three ODIs in August and September that year, Maharoof was against selected in Sri Lanka's squad, allowing senior players to be rested for some of the matches. Although he didn't play in either of the Tests, in the two ODIs Maharoof played he took six wickets at an average of 9.00, finishing equal with Tillakaratne Dilshan as leading wicket-taker in the series. The Sri Lanka coach at the time, Tom Moody, praised Maharoof's bowling, saying "Maharoof bowled superbly well in the Indian Oil series and has shown [against Bangladesh] that he going to be a more valuable bowler going into the future". When Sri Lanka toured Indian in October to December 2005 for three Tests and seven ODIs, Maharoof was included in the squad. He played in six of the seven ODIs, taking six wickets at an average of 39.33 and scoring 60 runs from five innings. Sri Lanka lost the series and the captain at the time, Kumar Sangakkara, described the experience as "a learning trip" for Maharoof, noting that he had bowled well at times. Maharoof played a single Test on the tour, taking three wickets for 77 runs and scoring just six runs.