SLC hits back at Bedi for calling Murali 'shot putter'

Colombo, Aug 9 (UNI) The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today came out strongly against former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi's outburst on spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action, terming it as ''needless, unfair and deliberate'' attempt to defame the champion spinner.

The 60-year-old Bedi, known for making strong opinions on modern day cricket, has attrbuted Muralitharan a 'shot putter' tag and claimed that the Lankan spinner does not have clean bowling action, instead he is a cheater, a monster created by the ICC with the help of their technological non-sense.

But the SLC took a very strong exception to these remarks and came out in full support for the 'golden boy' of their nation's cricket.

''While the SLC respects the right of individuals to form their own opinion regarding the matter of illegal bowling actions, we feel that Mr Bedi's comments are defamatory and is intended to cause harm to Murali's reputation, achievements and also disparages the ICC's ruling on the said matter,'' spokesman of the SLC, Samantha Algama told UNI over the phone.

''He (Bedi) has needlessly, unfairly and deliberately targeted Murali in his vituperative outburst,'' he added.

He also pointed out that Bedi's remarks were baseless as the 35-year-old spinner's bowling action has been scrutinized and cleared time and again by bowling experts, bio-mechanical experts and medical experts.

''It is irresponsible for a person of Mr Bedi's stature in the game to make such public comments where he has clearly attacked the personal integrity of Murali and the technical competency of the ICC,'' Algama said.

''Sri Lanka Cricket sincerely believes that appropriate action should be taken by the authorities to prevent such incidents from recurring and we will support all efforts by Murali to take corrective action in this regard,'' he added.

UNI