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Sri Lankan Community in the UK claim an injustice done to Sri Lankan cricket

Sri Lanka has been floored by a double whammy blow by the South African umpire Van der Merwe when Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan captain was given a one year suspended ban and a hefty fine. It looked very much as if the English and the Australians have achieved their aims to rattle the World Champions - they crashed against their match with England and the whole sorry saga Muthiah Muralitharan's bowling action is back on the agenda.

The smug English cricketing media were still denouncing the Sri Lankan team. Arjuna Ranatunga has been singled out and has come up against fierce criticism from English and Australian pressmen who have been united in their bias against the World Champions. Some virtually campaigned against Ranatunga, article after article urged the ICC to ban Arjuna Ranatunga. The London Times and Michael Henderson in particular were fiercely critical of Arjuna Ranatunga and the Sri Lankan team. 'Ranatunga deserves censure' added the arrogant Henderson who attacked the captain of the World Champions for childish temper tantrums.' The feeling that has been given is that Ranatunga has been doing this all the time, this is far from the truth. In Sri Lanka he is known as 'Captain Cool' because of his cool, calm and collected manner.

Rowan blows his trumpet

Former Australian test umpire Lou Rowan came out firing and his remarks were published in the British cricket media. Speaking to the media said: 'While Ranatunga might be king in his own country, he doesn't amount to too much here,'said Rowan. 'He does not have the right in law or morally, to dictate to anyone how to run the game of cricket. I thought it was disgraceful, the worst conduct possible. If I had my way, he would be scrubbed from the game now and be done with it,' trumpeted the former Australian umpire.

But people may recall that Rowan himself was a man who used to be in the centre of controversy. England captain Ray Illingworth led his team from the field because of a crowd disturbance during the Sydney Test in the Ashes test of 1970-1971. The English accused Rowan of total incompetence.

It appears that nothing has changed in Australia in 1999. And nothing has changed within the ICC. This world governing body has been accused of double standards and people are calling for a radical change and a total shake up of the ICC hierarchy to reflect the changing picture in cricket. It should no longer be a little club with England and Australia holding sway and getting away with practically everything. Countries like Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh will play a meaningful role within the ICC in future. Others like the Maldives will get in one day. The family of cricket is expanding and the ICC needs to change - it is no longer an old colonial club. Lessons must be learnt from the debacle of this United series in Australia. Sri Lanka must stand up for her rights. Ranatunga has been made a scapegoat by the South African umpire who went to the media and criticised Ranatunga for bringing lawyers into a hearing.

Third World

Double standards have been applied. The England captain, Alex Stewart has come in for heavy criticism for his continued thuggery on the field of cricket. And yet he gets away with it all the time. Whilst Muthiah Muralitharan and Arjuna Ranatunga continue to be persecuted, harrassed and booed. There is one rule for the Third World and another for Western cricketing nations.

It appears to be quite alright for Shane Warne and Mark Waugh to act as consultants on the weather for bookmakers and then they come down heavily on Pakistani players for match fixing. It is quite alright for England captain Mike Gatting to wag his finger at pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana and Ranatunga is slaughtered for waging his at Australian umpire Ross Emerson.

It is quite alright for Mike Atherton, the England captain to be caught on camera to be rubbing dirt on the ball in his pocket and Imran Khan among others have been heavily criticised for allegedly doing things to the ball. It seems acceptable for Ross Emerson the Australian umpire who called Murali for throwing to take time off from work as a result of suffering from severe stress and then the ACB place him on a cricket field in what is a volatile situation.

ICC needs radical change

The time has come for a radical change in the ICC and the Indian sub-continent must speak with one voice. Imran Khan has been calling for a panel of reputed, first class umpires from around the world. This is what the ICC should be aiming for incompetent umpires like Ross Emerson and Darrell Hair should be thrown out.

This whole sorry saga has damaged cricketing relations between England and Australia. The South African umpire has warned Ranatunga that his every step will be watched while Waugh and Warne and Alex Stewart are free to continue doing what they have been doing with the ICC turning a blind eye.

All this has incensed Sri Lankans - some were even considering demonstrating outside the ICC Headquarters at Lord's and Australian embassies around the world. Feeling is running high because ordinary punters feel that there is an injustice here - Sri Lanka has been put in the dock by the ICC, the Australian and English media while there is allegedly bribery, corruption and thuggery on cricket fields elsewhere.

One observer from Manchester said: 'These people treat us badly on a cricket field and then they come to Asia asking for business and trade ...'

People feel very strongly that Sri Lanka's hands are being tied and Ranatunga has been made a scapegoat, merely for defending a member of his team.

The British media have castigated Ranatunga ... it must be said that Ranatunga and the entire cricket team have always played like gentlemen on a cricket field. In this instance, Arjuna Ranatunga, who has kept his cool for so long felt enough was enough - Murali had been called for throwing by an Australian umpire who was determined to do so in the first place. Football hooligans in the guise of English cricketers can run riot and ultimately it is the Asians who are going to be punished by the ICC.