International Cricket Council chief Ehsan Mani attacked claims of bias leveled against the ICC and its Match Referee Chris Broad in light of the decision to report Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for a suspected illegal bowling action.
"I am not going to make any comment on the action of any bowler but what I can say is that the match officials are well within their rights to raise any concerns about any delivery from any bowler. The rules say it, the playing conditions demand it and every Test-playing country has agreed to it," said Mani.
"Given this reality it is deeply disappointing to read claims from some quarters about bias.
"Already we have seen claims that there is a conspiracy led by Australia and England while, on the same day, others have claimed that nothing will happen because it is a conspiracy to protect the player involved.
"Both claims lack any substance. Both claims do nothing to assist the game or the bowler in addressing these concerns and both claims are simply wrong.
"The truth of the matter is that the ICC has now put a system in place that, more than ever before, allows it to detect and address bowling actions that are potentially illegal.
"This two-stage process also ensures that any bowler who is reported is able to obtain the necessary expert assistance to address any flaws that are detected so that he can continue to play at the international level. Most recently, Pakistan's Shabbir Ahmed has been able to benefit from this process and make some technical adjustments to his action to allow him to play at international level.
"The issue of flawed actions has always been an emotion-laden topic and it is about time that all of us involved in the game adopt a more mature approach to this issue.
"It is essential that any concerns are addressed in a clear, calm and direct way that protects the interests of the bowlers, the batsmen but above all the spirit of the game and that is exactly the approach that the ICC is adopting with this issue."
