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Top Australian umpire on call over Sri Lanka charges
AFP
10 January 1999
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Jan 10 (AFP) - Australia's top umpire,
Darrell Hair, was questioned by telephone by the International Cricket
Council here Sunday over allegations he brought the game into
disrepute.
World Cup champions Sri Lanka have asked for Hair to be disciplined
for reopening the controversy surrounding their star spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan.
``They talked to him in a phone link-up and will take a decision on
Monday,'' said Michelle Lewis, the New Zealand Cricket press officer
looking after media for the ICC.
ICC chief executive David Richards said Saturday Sri Lanka viewed
Hair's autobiography, in which he described Muralitharan's action as
``diabolical'', as a breach of conduct.
``It hasn't happened with a current umpire before, so if it's found
there was a breach of the code of conduct we will have to work through
the processes,'' Richards said.
Players face suspensions of three Tests or six one-day matches if they
bring the game into disrepute.
Hair no-balled Muralitharan seven times during the Boxing Day Test at
Melbourne in 1995 and said in his book he could have called him
another 27 times.
The Sri Lankan was later found not to have violated the throwing law
and Sri Lanka, who delighted in beating Australia in the World Cup
final later in 1995, have demanded Hair be punished.
Hair stood down for a one-day series involving Australia, Sri Lanka
and England in Australia which starts Sunday.
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