Injured Sri Lankans may be out of Australia tour

The duo had earlier been given time until December 23 to pass a fitness test to qualify but officials said their participation in the triangular series that includes Australia and England remained doubtful.

The triangular ran into trouble when top Australian umpire Darrel Hair reiterated that Muralitharan was guilty of throwing and that he would not hesitate to no ball the spinner unless he corrected his ``diabolical'' action.

Hair withdrew from officiating at any Sri Lankan matches but the Cricket Board here is insisting that the controversial umpire should be investigated for commenting on players in violation of a code of conduct.

Muralitharan is meanwhile nursing an injury he sustained during the mini world cup in Bangladesh.

The Sunday Times newspaper said vice captain de Silva may face attacks from the Australian press because of his ``personal problem.'' The paper was referring to an illegitimate child he fathered in Australia.

The Sri Lanka squad named earlier for the Australian tour: Arjuna Ranatunga (capt), Aravinda de Silva (vice capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Suresh Perera, Nuwan Zoysa, Aviska Gunawardena and Tilan Samarawaeera.