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Doosra bubble set to burst at the ICC meeting!
By Marlon Fernandopulle
The International Cricket Council (ICC) continues to maintain a deafening silence on Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) request to permit Muttaih Muralitharan to bowl the controversial "doosra" delivery.

In a letter sent to the ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed on the 9th of June, SLC President Mohan de Silva urged the ICC to permit Muttaih Muralitharan to bowl the "doosra" until research is carried out on all spinners and a sufficient data base collected. When The Sunday Times asked whether SLC received a reply to the letter Chief Executive Officer Duleep Mendis said, "SLC has not received a reply ". What is even more surprising is that crickets governing body has not even acknowledged receiving this important letter.

As exclusively reported in last weeks The Sunday Times ICC's high powered General Manager David Richardson had made a recommendation through the ICC Cricket Committee - Management in August last year to increase the tolerance levels of all bowlers to 15 degrees. However this recommendation by the Cricket Committee management to the ICC never saw the light of day.

Why the ICC has not replied SLC's letter requesting Murali to permit bowling the "doosra" and ignored David Richardson's recommendation is puzzling as it only leads to increasing speculation that off spinner Muralitharan is unjustly treated and victimized. With the ICC Directors Board and the CEO's of member countries set to meet next week in London it will be upto the Sri Lanka Cricket officials to put further pressure on the ICC and demand for justice and fair play on the controversial "doosra" issue. SLC will be represented by President Mohan De Silva and CEO Duleep Mendis at the ICC meetings.

It was only last week that SLC President Mohan de Silva said that Sri Lanka had the support and backing of six test playing nations on the Muralitharan issue. With the majority of nations backing Sri Lanka it will be interesting to see what transpires at next weeks ICC meeting in London if and when the "doosra" issue is taken up for debate and discussion.

No media ban on Murali.
Meanwhile SLC dismissed that there is any ban imposed on Muralitharan with regard to speaking to the local media. Reacting to news reports that SLC has imposed a local media ban SLC Cheif Executive Duleep Mendis said "There is no such ban. As all other contracted players Muralitharan also requires approval from the CEO or Cricket Manager for any interview".

Speaking to local reporters and photographers at a felicitation ceremony organised by Vogue Jewellers last afternoon Muralitharan re-iterated his stand with the local media saying, "I am a contracted player and an employee of Sri Lanka Cricket and I need to follow their instructions which clearly states that prior approval from the CEO or manager is required before I speak to the media. I am only following these instructions".

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