Muttiah Muralitharan has been publicly rebuked by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka after questioning the bowling action of Australia's leading pace bowlers.
Muralitharan stirred up controversy when he said during an interview with Melbourne's Radio Sport 927 that Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee flexed their arms by 12, 13 and 14-15 degrees respectively.
At present, spinners are permitted five degrees of bend, medium pacers 7.5 and fast bowlers 10, although last week an ICC committee recommended all bowlers be allowed to straighten their arms by up to 15 degrees.
Sri Lanka Cricket has demanded an explanation from leading off spinner Muralitharan and insisted that he seek their prior permission before agreeing to any more media interviews.
"Sri Lanka Cricket was perturbed by statements attributed to Mr Muralitharan in the recent past," a media statement read."
"Muralitharan is a contracted player and making statements to the media without having obtained the requisite permission is a violation of the said contract," it added.
"Sri Lanka Cricket has called for his explanation in this regard."
Muralitharan, who has been sent a letter by the board, has said his comments were misrepresented. "I never called anyone a chucker," Muralitharan told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"All I said is that if you are accusing me of going over the level of tolerance, you have to look at your own bowlers too," he said.
Muralitharan is set to resume bowling his controversial doosra, a disguised leg break, after the ICC committee recommended the change in the rules. The doosra has been measured at around 14 degrees.
Muralitharan travels to Australia next week to meet Melbourne-based surgeon David Young who will assess his recovery from shoulder surgery in August. He hopes to return to top-class cricket in January when Sri Lanka will be touring New Zealand.
