Ranatunga gets suspended sentence, fine

The penalty was imposed on Ranatunga, 35, for his action in leading players to the edge of the field and causing a 12-minute hold-up after the team's controversial off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan, was no-balled for throwing by Australian umpire Ross Emerson in a one-day game against England in Adelaide last Saturday.

International Cricket Council (ICC) referee, Peter Van der Merve, announcing his decision, said: ``Ranatunga expressed regret at the embarrassment he caused his opponents, the public, and officials. ``He has been warned that his every action will be very closely monitored over the next 12 months.''

The sentence means Ranatunga is free to continue playing immediately and the penalty will not be applied unless he offends again in the next year.

Ranatunga learned his fate after a four-hour hearing at the Western Australian Cricket Association headquarters where the man who led Sri Lanka to the one-day World Cup in 1996 and the ICC were both represented by senior lawyers.

The suspended penalty means he will be able to play in Sri Lanka's two crucial Perth games this weekend against England on Friday and Australia on Sunday. He will also be able to play in his country's final two qualifying games against England in Sydney next Wednesday and against Australia in Melbourne four days later.

Sri Lanka need to win at least three of their next four matches to have a good chance of qualifying for the best of three finals matches and a shot at the 100,000 Australian dollars (630,000 US) first prize.