Sri Lanka files complaint against Muttiah Muralitharan

 

 

Colombo: An irate Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has protested to the Australian cricket team's management over the alleged high-handedness of spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan, who is working with the visitors as a spin consultant for the three-Test series in island nation.

"This is not an action that is expected from Murali," SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala told reporters on Monday. 

Sumathipala alleged that Murali had forcibly entered the Pallekele Stadium and had exchanged words with the Sri Lankan team manager Charith Senanayake.

Murali was angry because of the stadium authorities' decision to not to allow the Australian team to have a fielding session inside the main ground turf.

He had forcibly entered the outfield with his Australian team members defying the decision.

SLC sources also accused Murali of interfering in the pitch preparation at the P Sara Stadium where the Australians concluded their three-day tour match last week.

It was said that the former record breaking Sri Lankan off spinner had brought pressure on the officials at the Sara Stadium, his home ground when he played for the Tamil Union in the domestic first class competition.

Murali's stint with the Australians has not gone down well with the local fans considering what he had faced Down Under during his early playing days.

The Sri Lankan off-spinner was targeted by Australia in his playing days in the mid and late 1990's, when he was called for chucking a number of times by Australian umpires.