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| Tuesday, 18 May 2004 |
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Jeewan to discuss murali affair with ICC by Dinesh Weerawansa Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga said he would discuss the ongoing controversy over Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Minister Kumaratunga expressed confidence of arriving at a settlement with the ICC over the bowling action of Sri Lanka's star cricketer. The Minister yesterday had a discussion with the officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket, headed by the CEO and former Sri Lanka captain, Duleep Mendis. "I have already spoken to the officials (of Sri Lanka Cricket). I wanted some clarifications on three points from them. Once I get that, we hope to talk to the ICC through the Board (Sri Lanka Cricket)," the Minister told the Daily News yesterday. He said they should be able to settle the matter with the world governing body. Minister Kumaratunga said all Sri Lankan Cricket lovers would take up the matter with the ICC and press for a better response regarding the controversial ball the spin wizard has introduced - the doosra. "I hope we could take up the matter with the ICC," the Minister added. Asked about the recent news reports that the Australian Prime Minister John Howard had called Muralitharan a 'chucker', Minister Kumaratunga said they would verify the news report. "We really do not know whether the Australian PM had said a thing like that or not, or whether it was an official remark or not. We would see whether he had actually called Muralitharan a chucker. Then we would express our views," the Minister said. The Sports Minister's remarks and meeting with the Sri Lanka Cricket officials came less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse had looked into the possibility of taking legal action against the ICC over Muralitharan's case. "The Prime Minister has decided to take legal steps against the ICC for banning the doosra. He has discussed it with some veteran lawyers," a spokesman to the PM was quoted as saying. Prime Minister Rajapakse had stated that the record-breaking bowler is a national asset and that all Sri Lankans should rally round Muralitharan at this hour. The Lankan PM has said that he would do everything within his power, and that of the Government, to defend the bowler. Meanwhile, President of Sri Lanka Cricket Mohan de Silva, in a telephone conversation from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe yesterday, said they would follow the ICC instructions but would present Muralitharan's case at official level. "We have to respect the ICC protocols and we have advised him to refrain from bowling the doosra until we are clear on this matter. We have plenty of scientific data, and we will be taking this up with the ICC," De Silva said. The Lankan Cricket chief confirmed that the Board had asked Muralitharan to refrain from bowling the doosra, but they would pursue the issue with the ICC. |
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