Sri Lanka will not pull out, says Board chief (24 January 1999)

24 January 1999

Sri Lanka will not pull out, says Board chief

AFP

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan 24 (AFP) - Sri Lankan Cricket Board president Thilanga Sumathipala said Sunday his country had no intention of abandoning their Australian tour after off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing.

Australian umpire Ross Emerson called Muralitharan's 10th ball in Saturday's tri-nations series one-dayer against England in Adelaide, reigniting the bitter furore that arose when he was no-balled by three umpires during the 1995-96 Australian tour.

The Sri Lankan Board were due to meet Sunday (4.30 GMT) to discuss the latest crisis.

"As far as the tour is concerned, there is no doubt," Sumathipala told ABC radio.

"I can assure you the tour will go on, but the subject will be discussed at the meeting," he said.

"We do know what he (Muralitharan) is going through -- it's like he's a criminal. It's not fair what people are doing to him.

"I can't see how anybody has any doubt about his action.

"There is a huge question mark: Who is controlling the game? The International Cricket Council (ICC) or a few umpires?

"If a few individuals feel they're above the game, it's a bad day for world cricket."

He said Sri Lanka had put a proposal for a change in the rules on throwing to the ICC at their recent meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He expected it to be passed at the ICC cricket committee's meeting in London in June.

"A bowler who passes X number of overs or wickets should not be called in the middle because if he is there can be serious penalties that can be resolved outside the game," he said.

"It is very bad for the reputation of the game and it's not fair for the players. We can't go on like this, it's a torture for this boy."

Source :: AFP