Sri Lanka has abandoned plans to sue the International Cricket Council for banning spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan’s controversial ‘doosra’ delivery, a government spokesman said today.The government, after talks with lawyers, decided to change track and appeal Muralitharan’s case before the sport’s world governing body, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s spokesman Rohan Weliwita said.“Even though lawyers felt there was sufficient ground to sue, the first step will be to present an appeal on behalf of Muralitharan,” Weliwita said. “The Prime Minister is getting the support of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.”Rajapakse last week met with India’s High Commisioner in Sri Lanka, Nirupam Sen, who pledged to secure India’s co-operation to defend the off-spinner who recently broke the world record for highest Test wickets.The state-run Daily News reported that two teams of lawyers from Britain and Australia were joining their Sri Lankan counterparts to mount pressure on the ICC over the Murali issue, but Weliwita said he was unaware of it.The Sri Lankan Premier had last week brushed aside ICC chief Ehsan Mani’s advice to stay out of the Muralitharan controversy and allow the ICC to deal with the situation. “I don’t know how we’d be sued, but all our regulations are fully supported by our members,” said Mani, saying that the Lankan board is affiliated to the ICC.
