COLOMBO, Dec 4 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's cricket board welcomed Friday the withdrawal of controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair from next months' matches but insisted that disciplinary action should still be taken against him.

The Board of Control for cricket in Sri Lanka said it was still pushing the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take action against Hair for his remarks against Sri Lanka's star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

"Hair's decision to pull out is a good one in the interest of the game," board president Thilanga Sumathipala said.

"But we will pursue with the ICC about Hair violating the code of conduct."

Hair, regarded as Australia's leading umpire, said he would stand down from matches against Sri Lanka in the interests of harmony during the limited overs series which also involve England starting next month.

Sri Lanka were angered by comments in Hair's recently-published book about Muralitharan.

Hair no-balled Muralitharan for throwing seven times in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in Melbourne in 1995.

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Denis Rogers insisted that Hair's decision was not influenced by the board.

"I don't want anyone leaving this room saying 'they have nobbled him (Hair)' ... because it is just not true," Rogers said.

Hair's book, Decision Maker, rekindled the Muralitharan controversy.

The man, described by Rogers as Australia's leading umpire, said he did not regret the book, which details in part the events of the 1995 MCG Test.

He said his decision to withdraw from Sri Lankan selection this summer was "fairly easy" after consulting cricket colleagues worldwide.

"I've got no regrets about releasing a book. However the timing was probably unfortunate," Hair said.

"The timing of my book is inappropriate and in the best interests of cricket harmony, I have taken this decision."

Rogers made clear the ACB's displeasure at the timing of Hair's book.

"As I said to him (Hair) in an uncomplicated way, the timing of his book was indeed unfortunate," Rogers said.

"He has made some comments about contemporary players who will be touring here this summer and he is a serving umpire.

"I don't think that is conducive to harmonious relations.

Hair wrote of Muralitharan: "I don't think he straightens his arm all the time, just on some occasions.

"I could have called him 27 times or even more but I did not want the matter to become a complete farce."

Sri Lanka arrive in Australia on New Year's Day for the one-day series2E