The Sunday Times Sports - Lankan IC President hails Madugalle’s decision

President of Sri Lanka Cricket’s Interim Committee Jayantha Dharmadasa hailed International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle’s decision to ban Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for only four ODIs.

He said, “Though there was speculation of Inzamam being banned for eight matches etc., he forfeits only four matches and I think it was a very good decision by Madugalle.”Inzamam-ul-Haq was charged by the ICC for ball tampering by the Pakistani team during the fourth Test between Pakistan and England at the London Oval. Subsequently, umpires Darrel Hair of Australia and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies, awarded the match to England after Inzamam refused to lead the side back onto the field after tea on the fourth day of the match. Inzamam was acquitted of ball tampering but was punished for bringing the game into disrepute for not leading the side back onto the field.

In the aftermath of that incident, a war of words between Pakistan and the ICC’s CEO Malcolm Speed ensued, with Pakistan also asking the ICC not to appoint Hair from officiating in any future matches involving Pakistan, which the ICC refused.

Darrel Hair first became notorious after he no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan during a boxing day Test against Australia in 1995. Muralitharan was later cleared by the ICC.

When asked if the Sri Lankan authorities would also request the ICC not appoint Hair from officiating in matches involving Sri Lanka, Dharmadasa said “So far we have not made any requests of that nature but, we are watching developments. At the moment, we genuinely feel that we must press it further, as Muralitharan has come a long way in cricket, since then.”