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PERTH, Western Australia, Sunday.

Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga by defying the norms and bringing in lawyers to defend him in his ICC code of conduct hearing, looks set to split the cricket world in two.

It is rumoured that the International Cricket Conference is considering not inviting Sri lanka for the next World Cup in England beginning in May.

Being the world champions, the Lankans don't need anyone's invitation. They are automatically there. If the ICC which has been called names like 'Toothless tiger', 'Paper tiger' etc. decides to take the course of action that they are supposed to be considering, then cricket will never be the same again.

Thilanga Sumathipala, President of the BCCSL who is here with the team had this to say when posed the question of Sri Lanka facing the prospect of missing the next World Cup.

'I read it in the newspapers this morning. Ridiculous. A responsible body like the ICC I am sure will not act in a dictatorial manner. After all Ranatunga was making use of the openings allowing him to defend himself. We are a part of the ICC.

'The ICC must first remember that it was match referee Peter Vander Merwe who first planted the seeds of suspicion on the bowling action of Muthiah Muralitharan, which was watered on by the media which led to umpire Ross Emerson calling the bowler and fuelling the events that led to Ranatunga acting the way he did.

'We have kept the ICC informed of the events that have been unfolding here and we leave it to them to judge', said Sumathipala who reiterated that Ranatunga was well within his rights to call in his lawyers and defend himself. 'Natural justice demands it and the ICC code of conduct regulations allow it', said Sumathipala who brushed aside the rumour of ICC considering leaving out the Lankans from the next World Cup as the figment of some over enthusiastic journalists.

It will be interesting to see how events unfold from here.

But the Lankans must be admired for their readiness to fight fire with fire. From the day they arrived here they have been hauled over the coals by the media. The days when we said: 'Yes sir', No sir', are no more.

The ICC should have visualised that, when they were allowing big money into the game, they were also laying the platform for the actors to abuse the traditional values of the game.

'Play the game', Play a straight bat'. The umpire's word is law' and many other treasured axioms are now dead and buried. Today money is the thing. Now even cricket has become a blood sport. That's what prompted former Aussie fearsome bowlers like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson to say that they would like to see batsmen hit and bloody.

I have followed Arjuna Ranatunga's career from the time it began and I can say that I have never seen him loose his temper or his cool like he did the other day in Adelaide when his 'hit man' Muralitharan was unjustly called for throwing. He must be admired for standing up for his team mate.

During the hearing in Adelaide which was adjourned and reconvened in Perth, Ranatunga did not lack for want of support from some of the Lankans domiciled here. Pani Abeywickrema the former CH and FC ruggerite organised about 100 protestors along with former Josephian cricketer Tilak Jayamanne, supported by cheer leaders Lionel and Tissa and kept shouting protests when the hearing was on. Once the news was broken that Ranatunga has been given a suspended sentence and a fine, they broke into loud cheers, sang and danced to Sinhala pops and finished up with the national anthem.