While Murali says he will boycott Australian tour

Test cricket8217;s leading wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan has said he will boycott Sri Lanka8217;s tour of Australia next month because of comments made by Australian Prime minister John Howard about his bowling action.

Howard made the comments in the wake of the ICC8217;s decision that Muralitharan8217;s doosra delivery, which breaks away from right-handed batsmen, falls foul of its regulations on throwing.

8220;I won8217;t be going because of the Australian Prime Minister,8221; Muralitharan told reporters on Sunday before the Sri Lankan team management stopped him from commenting further.

But Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu questioned whether Muralitharan had made up his mind fully on the issue.

8220;I don8217;t think he has made a decision as such,8221; Atapattu said.