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Top Australian umpire faces Sri Lanka charges

AFP
9 January 1999



CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Jan 9 (AFP) - Australia's top umpire, Darrell Hair, faces a call for a Test match ban when the International Cricket Council's executive board meets here Sunday and Monday.

World Cup champions Sri Lanka have asked for Hair to be disciplined for reopening the controversy surrounding their star spinner Muttiah Muralidharan.

ICC chief executive David Richards said Saturday Sri Lanka viewed Hair's autobiography, in which he described Muralidharan's action as ``diabolical'', was a breach of conduct.

``It hasn't happened with a current umpire before so if it's found there was a breach of the code of conduct we will have to work through the processes,'' Richards said.

Players face suspensions of three Tests or six one-day matches if they bring the game into disrepute.

Hair no-balled Muralidharan seven times on the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in 1995 and said in his book he could have called him another 27 times.

The Sri Lankan was later found not to have violated the throwing law and Sri Lanka, who delighted in beating Australia in the World Cup final later in 1995, have demanded Hair be punished.

Hair stood down for a one-day series involving Australia, Sri Lanka and England in Australia which starts Sunday.



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