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SRI LANKA, the World Cup holders, were relieved to learn yesterday that Australian umpire Darrell Hair will not be standing in any of their qualifying games when they begin their title defence in England next month.

Hair no-balled Sri Lanka's top spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing seven times during a 1995 Test in Melbourne, and refuelled the controversy in his autobiography by describing Muralitharan's action as ``diabolical''.

Later found guilty of violating the International Cricket Council's code of conduct, Hair escaped punishment on a technicality as the code contained no penalty process relating to umpires.

Hair was stood down for the triangular series in Australia last summer involving England and Sri Lanka, but Muralitharan was then called for throwing by Ross Emerson, another Australian umpire, who was also jettisoned for his pains.

In Karachi, Javed Miandad has denied he would still attend the World Cup after resigning as Pakistan's coach. ``These are rumours,'' he said. ``I am not going anywhere.''