Tuesday, 18 May 2004 |
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ZCU apologises to Murali for Ebrahim remark Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Zimbabwe) BULAWAYO, Monday - Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) president Peter Chingoka apologized to Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for the unruly comment made to him by one of his players. "Muralitharan we respect you as a great bowler. Please accept my apologies on behalf of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and our national team for the remarks made to you by one of our players," said Chingoka at a reception given in honour of the visiting Sri Lanka team at Queens Sports Club on Sunday evening. Ebrahim, the Zimbabwe vice-captain was subsequently banned for one Test by International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike Procter for contravening level 2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Officials. Ebrahim said that the only legal delivery Muralitharan bowled was the leg-break. Chingoka said that the ZCU was happy that Muralitharan broke the world record of West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh on Zimbabwe soil. He assured Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of his full support in their effort to have the bowler cleared of his new delivery, the 'doosra' - which at present has been banned by the ICC until further research has been done on spinners. SLC president Mohan de Silva who is here on the invitation of the ZCU said that his board was taking steps to have Muralitharan's 'doosra' cleared by the ICC with the help of other Test playing countries. De Silva assured Muralitharan that he would soon be able to start bowling the 'doosra' again. "We are actually gearing ourselves with the necessary scientific evidence and other necessary details to put forward his case," he said. The SLC are keeping their fingers crossed on the report of the ICC three-member subcommittee, which will look at the review procedure and the protocols of the tolerance for bowlers. Former Sri Lanka cricketer and current SLC vice president Aravinda de Silva is one of the members in that subcommittee which also comprises former England fast bowler Angus Fraser and former Australian cricketer Tim May. There were many pleasantries and gifts exchanged by both sides at the occasion, which was attended by officials and the teams of both countries. |
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