SL seeks Indian support to sue ICC

Colombo:

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse today held closed-door talks with Indian Ambassador, Nirupam Sen, seeking support for suing the ICC over its decision to ban Muttiah Muralitharan's 'doosra'. The Prime Minister received Sen at his official Temple Trees residence for the talks, officials said. Details of the talks were not disclosed, but Rajapakse said yesterday that he was seeking surpport from the other three Test playing nations in South Asia -- Bangladesh, India and Pakistan -- over the issue. Rajapakse is also making elaborate arrangements to welcome Muralitharan on his return later in the day after Sri Lanka's tour of Zimbabwe where he broke the world record for most number of Test wickets. The Sri Lankan Premier mounted a campaign to defend the star off-spinner after he was reported for suspect bowling action by ICC Match Referee Chris Broad during the home series against Australia last month. Rajapakse snubbed ICC President Ehsan Mani's who advised politicians to stay out of the Muralitharan row and allow the ICC to deal with the situation. Australian Premier John Howard added spice to he debate on illegal bowling action last week when he said Muralitharan was a chucker, prompting the world record-smashing spinner to consider boycotting Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in July. Rajapakse said Muralitharan, the most successful bowler in Test history, was a national asset and he would do everything within his power and that of the government to defend the bowler. (PTI)