Ranatunga faces possible disciplinary action over walkoff

Ranatunga Monday defended his actions in Saturday's confrontational tri-series match against England, when he argued heatedly with umpire Ross Emerson after spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing.

Ranatunga will appear at a code of conduct hearing before South African match referee Peter van der Merwe.

``I think I did the right thing by a colleague of mine who has been the best bowler Sri Lanka has ever produced,'' Ranatunga said on television.

The charges against Ranatunga have not been made public, but he could face a fine or suspension if found guilty of misconduct.

The longest suspension administered for breach of the code was in April 1997 to Australian vice captain Ian Healy, who missed two matches for dissent when he threw his bat up the stairs to the team dressing room after being dismissed in South Africa.

Sri Lanka's cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala is concerned there could be further tense scenes in Friday's match against Australia in Perth, where Emerson is again umpiring.

``Well, we have to sit and wait,'' Sumathipala said before leaving Colombo en route to Perth. ``Most probably it will be a repeat of the same episode.''

Asked what steps the team would take if Muralitharan was no-balled again, Sumathipala said: ``The captain and the players believe that he (Muralitharan) has got a legitimate action and Emerson is of the view that he is throwing every now and then.

``The umpire called within the laws of cricket, so we don't have any question about calling. But there are various other aspects to it,'' Sumathipala said, adding that the Sri Lankan board would have further discussions with the International Cricket Council.

Sri Lankan team manager Ranjith Fernando said board president Sumathipala would decide whether to travel on to Adelaide for Ranatunga's hearing.

Sri Lankan cricket officials held a round of meetings here Monday to discuss strategy for the hearing, which had been put off for 24 hours at their request.

``We really don't know what direction we will take,'' Fernando said.

``It is not a minute thing that has been brought about, it is a matter of principle generally.

``It is not something that can be decided at the drop of a hat.''