Ranatunga gets six-match suspended sentence

Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga was given a suspended sentence of six One-Day Internationals and fined 75 percent of his match fee at a disciplinary hearing here today.

The penalty was imposed on Ranatunga, 35, for his action in leading players to the edge of the field and causing a 12-minute hold-up after the team8217;s controversial off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan, was no-balled for throwing by Australian umpire Ross Emerson in a One-Day game against England in Adelaide last Saturday.

International Cricket Council ICC referee, Peter van der Merve, announcing his decision, said: 8220;Ranatunga expressed regret at the embarrassment he caused his opponents, the public, and officials.8221;