indianexpress.com :: Sri Lanka too considered pullout over Bhajji row

Sri Lanka too considered pullout over Bhajji row

Agencies

Posted online: Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 1112 hrs IST

Melbourne, January 30:
It was not only Indian team but also Sri Lanka Cricket which contemplated pulling out of the upcoming tri-series, had Harbhajan Singh not been absolved of the alleged racial abuse charges by ICC-appointed appeals commissioner.

Former World Cup winning captain and Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga was awaiting the outcome of the hearing to decide whether or not to continue the tour.

"We have not made any decision. We will wait to see the outcome (of the Harbhajan case) and we will go from there," Ranatunga said before the hearing.

"We have come to Australia to play cricket. It is our strong hope that we can still play cricket, but we will have to wait to see what happens before we can make any decision," he was quoted as saying by Herald Sun on Wednesday.

SLC Chief Executive Duleep Mendis also agreed the Sri Lankan board, which the BCCI counts among its strongest allies, was waiting for the result of the hearing.

"We will wait and see what decision is made," he said when asked to confirm Sri Lanka's participation in the one-day series in the event of India's withdrawal.

SLC secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan said: "We have a very good relationship with the Indian board, but I do not know what we will do until we, as a committee, sit down to discuss this.

"Our team is already in Sydney at the moment, so I hope the Indians will not end the tour, and the series can go on," he said.

The tri-series, involving hosts Australia as the third team, begins on Sunday.

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Sri Lanka too considered pullout over Bhajji row Agencies Posted online: Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 1112 hrs IST Melbourne, January 30: It was not only Indian team but also Sri Lanka Cricket which contemplated pulling out of the upcoming tri-series, had Harbhajan Singh not been absolved of the alleged racial abuse charges by ICC-appointed appeals commissioner. Former World Cup winning captain and Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga was awaiting the outcome of the hearing to decide whether or not to continue the tour. "We have not made any decision. We will wait to see the outcome (of the Harbhajan case) and we will go from there," Ranatunga said before the hearing. "We have come to Australia to play cricket. It is our strong hope that we can still play cricket, but we will have to wait to see what happens before we can make any decision," he was quoted as saying by Herald Sun on Wednesday. SLC Chief Executive Duleep Mendis also agreed the Sri Lankan board, which the BCCI counts among its strongest allies, was waiting for the result of the hearing. "We will wait and see what decision is made," he said when asked to confirm Sri Lanka's participation in the one-day series in the event of India's withdrawal. SLC secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan said: "We have a very good relationship with the Indian board, but I do not know what we will do until we, as a committee, sit down to discuss this. "Our team is already in Sydney at the moment, so I hope the Indians will not end the tour, and the series can go on," he said. The tri-series, involving hosts Australia as the third team, begins on Sunday.