29 January 1999
ICC open to ridicule after Ranatunga escapes ban
By Paul Newman in Perth
WORLD cricket laid itself open to ridicule yesterday when Arjuna
Ranatunga, the controversial Sri Lankan captain, received a
suspended sentence and a fine of just £60 for his behaviour in
Saturday's explosive one-day international against England in
Adelaide.
Ranatunga emerged from a five-hour International Cricket Council
hearing at the WACA ground with his place in the Sri Lankan side
for today's match against England intact even though he had
clashed furiously with Ross Emerson in Adelaide following the
umpire's decision to call Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing.
A lengthy hearing yesterday, attended by two lawyers representing
the ICC and two Australian-based lawyers for Sri Lanka, ended
with Peter van der Merwe, the South African match referee,
clearly upset that Ranatunga had escaped virtually unscathed
despite engaging in the worst player-versus-umpire confrontation
since Mike Gatting clashed with Shakoor Rana in 1987.
Van der Merwe said: "The unfortunate happening has cost
Ranatunga, and I told him this, a great deal in the popularity
stakes. And respect is something that both he and I will lose by
this decision."
Ranatunga, who was charged with five breaches of the ICC code of
conduct, received a suspended six-match ban, the maximum
suspension allowed by the regulations, and a fine of 75 per cent
of his match fee. Sri Lankan players are believed to be paid
7,000 Sri Lankan rupees (about £80) per match. If Ranatunga
violates clause one of the code of conduct, that which dictates
that the captain of each side should be responsible for his
team's behaviour at all times, within the next 12 months, he has
been promised that the ICC will come down heavily on him.
Ranatunga, however, is expected to retire after this year's World
Cup.
"I'm very disappointed that the disciplinary panel were
compromised by a number of legal representatives," said Van der
Merwe, an accountant by profession who adjourned the original
hearing on Tuesday when threatened by Sri Lankan legal action.
"In future the ICC will take the lead to ensure that lawyers will
not be present at hearings. I warned Ranatunga that his every
action in the next 12 months will be closely monitored and
scrutinised."
England, for whom Alec Stewart and Graeme Hick gave evidence at
the hearing yesterday, appeared to be seething as they returned
to their Perth hotel late last night, with team manager David
Graveney refusing to comment on the verdict.
Earlier there were almost surreal scenes at the WACA when the
principal witnesses in the hearing all appeared on the same
balcony at the same time, Stewart, who vehemently criticised
Ranatunga on Saturday, laughing and joking with the Sri Lankan
captain while Emerson, the umpire who is on sick leave from work
for a stress-related condition, stood no more than 10 yards away.
The ruling raises serious questions as to whether the ICC can
possibly be taken seriously as a governing body for the game if
they cave in at the first threat of legal action. There were
concerns that the Sri Lankans would quit this triangular series
if their hugely influential captain had received a suspension
which could have had implications for their defence of the World
Cup in England in May and June. As it is, Ranatunga is free to
exert his influence over proceedings as he did on Saturday in
Adelaide when he told Emerson, in no uncertain terms, that "I'm
in charge" on the field. Cricket was left in no doubt about that
last night.
England will have to put their frustrations at the verdict behind
them when they take to the WACA today for a match which has
become crucial to their hopes of reaching the final of the series
after two defeats in their last two games.
Ben Hollioake was expected to make his first international
appearance of the tour at the expense of Mark Ealham with his
older brother, Adam, resuming after a knee injury in place of
John Crawley.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)