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Arising from the treatment meted out to the Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia, it is imperative that the ICC strengthens its Code of Conduct to preserve the integrity of the sport of cricket.

The unwarranted offensive against our team by the Australian media both before and during the tour, was something unprecedented for any visiting team to face in any country. This is something one cannot control as we were at their mercy, but they have not shown even a modicum of politeness towards a team they invited by not welcoming them as their visitors. It is now clear the invitation was to get us there and ridicule us. At the matches the behaviour of many uncivilised and uncouth spectators - abusing, insulting and humiliating our players was degrading to cricket and should never be allowed to happen again.

If Australia wanted revenge for being rushed by Sri Lanka in the last World Cup final, they should have done it with the skill of their players and not used their media and spectators. The ICC must take a leaf out of the ITF - the International Tennis Federation whose code of conduct for tennis has enabled it to make their game a fine spectacle to the public. The contest between players it like a stage performance, and the spectators on site and others in their homes following it live via radio and T.V. relay, together with the sponsors expect a professional presentation.

In tennis the codes on audible obscenity i.e. use of profane words, and verbal abuse i.e. making derogatory, insulting otherwise abusive statements are heavily penalised. Cricket can with little modification use these codes to curb the more unsavoury forms of sledging.

Of particular importance is the code concerning partisan crowd, spectators behaviour during Davis Cup matches. In cricket the equivalent would be Test or One-Day international match. This code states - each country must control its supporting spectators to that play is not interrupted or disturbed. It covers the provoking or intimidation of players. The referee will have the authority to decide when to stop play or when to resume play taking into consideration the best interest of the players, the nations, the sponsors and the spirit of the game. He is empowered to use the public address system to speak other crowd and also use the home team captain for this purpose. The ITF introduced this code a few years back following the unsportsman like spectator behaviour of some home nations against visiting teams. If cricket had a similar code then the beer-bellied louts, the Australia has perhaps the largest number per capita, could have been silenced.

The British Press who treated us fairly during our tour of England in August last year have taken up the cry of their Aussie counterparts and made adverse reports about us in covering the One Day series in Australia. The World Cup in England is only a few months away and no doubt their scribes will try to out do their Aussie mates. The real and almost certain danger is that their notorious hooligan football spectators will come to the matches and take up the baying chant against Muralitharan and give him hell. After all it was Lloyd, the English coach who re-ignited the whole issue last year.

Can we get the ICC to see this potential catastrophe and take appropriate action. Our Board must take urgent steps.