Dunedin-based Ibadulla inserted an advertisement in his local newspaper during the aborted New Zealand-India test match in Dunedin, protesting that his removal was racially motivated.

Ibadulla is hoping to tackle former All Black Chris Laidlaw who, as race relations conciliator, rejected his original complaint. Ibadulla, who was a TVNZ commentator between 1981 and 1986, has been challenging the reason for his dismissal for the last decade.

TVNZ has rejected his claim, saying he was simply not chosen as there were more suitable commentators available, such as people who had played more recently. It has had no recent correspondence with Ibadulla.

``Nothing has changed as far as I'm aware and it would seem pretty hard to re-litigate a situation like that,'' said TVNZ spokesman Liam Jeory.