Sri Lankans looking for a fair hearing (28 January 1999)

28 January 1999

Sri Lankans looking for a fair hearing

Elmo Rodrigopulle

PERTH, Western Australia, Wednesday - The code of conduct hearing on Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga which was adjourned after a near 90 minute hearing in Adelaide will now be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 5 p.m. (Sri Lanka time 3 p.m.) at the WACA headquarters here. Peter van der Merve the match referee will conduct the inquiry.

Thilanga Sumathipala, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka who is here with the team said that the charges against Ranatunga by umpires Ross Emerson and Tony Mcquillan have been dropped and Ranatunga will have to defend the charge brought against him by the match referee who has accused Ranatunga of breaching the code of conduct relating to captains being responsible for upholding the spirit of the game and its laws.

"Whatever happens and whatever the sentence, punishment or fine because it is from the ICC we have no option but to accept it," said Sumathipala.

The BCCSL has strongly protested to the ICC regarding the match referee on his conduct where he spoke out and made certain comments regarding Muralitharan's action to certain mediamen which were published.

Van der Merve later denied making these allegations when questioned by the ICC and also informed the ICC that no umpire had made any complaints to him against Muralitharan's action. But he has still to deny it in writing.

Whatever the outcome the ICC, the ACB and the BCCSL are sitting on a powder keg which is bound to be ignited after the verdict is given by the match referee regarding Ranatunga tomorrow.

The ACB must take the blame for this ugly situation. When the chief executive of the BCCSL Dhammika Ranatunga flew in here a few months before the tour was to begin he was given the assurance by the ACB that nothing untoward would happen that will sour the tour. But what has now happened is the opposite.

The BCCSL is steadfastly holding on to the fact that the ICC had cleared the bowling action of Muralitharan and that Emerson had no right to call him.

The ACB had also told the Chief Executive that the umpires who were involved in calling Muralitharan on the previous tour would not be appointed to stand in matches that the Sri Lankans would be playing.

The media has started a vicious campaign against skipper Ranatunga in an attempt to influence the match referee into taking severe action against Ranatunga. They have even suggested that he should be banned for six games and fined heavily.

What the Sri Lankans are looking for is a fair hearing.

At the time of writing the Sri Lankan management and Ranatunga were in discussion with their lawyers as to how they will bat against the bouncers bowled by Van der Merve at the hearing. If Ranatunga is suspended it is likely that he will fly back home.

Indications are that a long drawn out legal battle would ensure.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)