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Indian tour in the balance over bargirl case?
Murali faces Indian doosra
By Marlon Fernandopulle
As the investigation into the alleged links of Sri Lanka’s champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan with Bombay bar dancer Tarannum Khan gathered momentum in India with the arrest of the dancer, speculation was rife in Sri Lanka that the island’s off spinner may have to skip Sri Lanka’s tour to India next month to avoid being grilled by the Indian Police.

Speaking to The Sunday Times on the grounds of anonymity a former top official of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said, “You never know, all these stories might be a fix, to deprive Muralitharan going to India next month.”
“Can you imagine Sri Lanka touring India without Muralitharan?, the former SLC official asked. Sri Lanka is expected to tour India in late October to play seven one dayers which will be followed by three tests in December.

Indian newspapers have reported that Mumbai Police will proceed to Sri Lanka shortly to quiz Muralitharan on this issue. However the Secretary of SLC Tryphon Mirando confirmed to the Sunday Times last afternoon that there has been no request from any quarter to question Muralitharan on this matter. “Any such request should come through SLC”, Mirando was not willing to openly concede to such requests but insisted that SLC will look into the request first and even consult their own lawyers before acceding to any requests to question Muralitharan. It is also learnt that the Lankan spinner who claimed a match haul of nine wickets in the first test against Bangladesh was not at practices yesterday.

Two South African cricketers Hershelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje who were alleged to have links with Indian bookies in the famous Hansie Cronje case were forced to skip South Africa’s Indian tour last year after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) failed to give an assurance to the two SA cricketers that they will not be investigated. Reports also indicate that Gibbs and Boje are certain to avoid South Africa’s Indian tour in November this year for the same reason.

Actor denies introducing Murali
Already the bar dancer Tarannum Khan has been arrested while Bollywood Actor Aditiya Panscholi (who is believed to have taken Murali to the dance bar) and a film producer have been grilled by Indian detectives who are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to get to the bottom of this latest controversy that has stolen the headlines in the game. Initial investigations by Bombay Police revealed that Tarannum is linked to several bookmakers in India which has given speculation that the bar dancer is involved in match fixing.
According to a Hindustan Times report on Friday actor Aditiya has admitted taking Murali to the Deepa bar but vehemently denies introducing the Lankan spinner to the dancer.

"I don't deny meeting Muralitharan. I met him only once and for one day. My friends asked me if I wanted to meet Muralitharan. Now tell me will any cricket buff say no to such an offer? I am a cricket fan and when I met him we talked about the game and then he said he wanted to visit dance bars. I took him to Deepa Bar. We were there only for 15 minutes. I don't know Tarannum and I never introduced him to any dance girl.

ICC Security Manager in Colombo
Two top ICC Anti corruption officers Alan Peacock and Martin Hawkins were in India earlier this week on official work described by the ICC as routine matters. With allegations of match fixing surfacing once again it is certain that Peacock and Hawkins will have to do much more than routine work in India.

Reports also indicated that the top cops of the ICC may travel to Sri Lanka following allegations of the bar girl and match fixing reports that have already linked three Sri Lankan cricketers.

Currently a ICC Security Manager Col.Nurruddin Khawaja who liaises closely with the Anti Corruption and Security Unit of ICC is in Colombo overlooking the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh series. His primary task is to provide a full time security network to protect the game from the risk of corruption.

Nothing official about it –SLC
Meanwhile SLC Chief Executive Officer Duleep Mendis insisted that SLC will not act on anything until it is official. “We are only reading all these in the Indian media. We will not act on any matter until it is official. Neither the BCCI nor the ICC have informed us of anything of this nature”. SLC’s interim committee secretary Tryphon Mirando also echoed similar sentiments when he said, “Yes, we will look into the matter once we have been informed officially about it. Todate it is only speculation and nothing else”.

Muralitharan who frequently visits India is married to Chennai based Mathimalar whose family are the owners of a leading Hospital in the Southern Indian State.

Murali refutes allegations
On Friday the champion spinner issued a statement through the SLC denying all allegations levelled against him on this issue. he said “I have fought hard throughout my carrier, overcoming many obstacles along the way and I will not tolerate those who promote gossip and speculation that defames my character”.

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