Sri Lankan board not to ask ICC to examine spinner's action

There had been suggestions the Sri Lankans would ask for a ruling before Friday's tri-nation one-day game against England.

But the board's chief executive, Dhammika Ranatunga, told Australian journalists from Colombo that the board didn't want to go through the elaborate process again.

``How many times do we have to go through this process, to clear him every time an umpire calls him,'' he said.

``If necessary we can do that, but I don't think so, because (ICC) people have seen his video footage and they've said there is no problem with his action.

``Nothing has changed since then. So I can't understand why we need to go through the procedure again and again.''

Ranatunga, the brother of Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, said it was the Australian Cricket Board's right to appoint the umpires of its choice.

But he added it was reasonable to expect problems last weekend with Ross Emerson, who called Muralitharan seven times on their last tour.

``Our intention was to have a trouble free tour and whatever decision they (umpires) take, we've got to go with it,'' Dhammika Ranatunga said. ``But this particular umpire called him in 1995-96 for throwing when he was bowling leg-spinners. So when a chap like that is officiating again, you've got to expect drama.''

Emerson ignited an angry reaction from the Sri Lankan team when he called Muralitharan for throwing last Saturday.

He was stood down from further matches pending an inquiry into his health after it was revealed he had been on sick leave from his public service job for eight weeks.

While Ranatunga said the scenes that followed Emerson's decision to call Muralitharan for chucking were regrettable, he said his brother, who faces disciplinary action by the ICC, has been unfairly criticised.

``People are saying various things about what happened on the basis of what they saw, but no-one knows exactly what the discussion was,'' he said. ``We are not in a position to judge that situation, no-one knows the words that were exchanged or what led to the situation.''

Ranatunga said he was still waiting to hear from the ICC on the timing of a hearing of misconduct charges against his brother, after the case was adjourned Tuesday.