BCCI wants Sri Lanka’s strict action in no-ball row

New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Wednesday said Sri Lanka Cricket should take strict action against the players responsible for the no-ball controversy which shrouded the ongoing One-day International (ODI) tri-nation series.

BCCI spokesperson Rajiv Shukla told reporters that the board could do little on the matter, calling it an issue of ‘player’s conduct.’

‘BCCI is bound by the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, board cannot change the rule. The issue involves the conduct of a player,’ Shukla said.

‘Sri Lankan cricket board should take strict action against those responsible. If the player was asked by someone to bowl a no-ball, then action must be taken against him. It is a very serious issue.’

In Monday’s match against Sri Lanka, India opener Virender Sehwag, batting at 99 with India needing just one run for victory, struck Suraj Randiv for a huge six over long-off, only to realise a moment later that it was a big, foot-long no-ball from the off-spinner and that his last-shot, beyond-ropes runs would not be counted.

According to the rule, the match finished when Randiv over-stepped, which gave India the required one run to win, making Sehwag’s six inconsequential and denying him a well-deserved century.

Randiv and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have apologised to Sewhag for denying him a hundred by deliberately bowling a no-ball. The SLC has promised to look into the episode and have set up a committee to enquire and take the guilty to task.

However, media reports here Wednesday claimed that it was Sehwag’s Delhi Daredevils teammate Tillakaratne Dilshan, fielding at cover point, who shouted to Randiv in Sinhalese ‘oney nam, no-ball ekak danna puluwan’, which in English means ‘if you want, you can bowl a no-ball’.

Earlier reports had said it was captain Sangkkara who instructed Randiv to do so and deny Sehwag his century.