In hot water, again Warne charged by ICC over his comments Click here for more on this story Posted: Saturday May 15, 1999 02:04 PM   Shane Warne's comments about Sri Lanka's captain Arjuna Ranatunga will be reviewed with by the International Cricket Council. Clive Mason/Allsport WORCESTER, England (AP) -- Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has been charged with breaking the International Cricket Council's code of conduct after making controversial remarks about Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga in a British newspaper. ICC chief executive David Richards said the matter would be dealt with by a tournament referee at a hearing Saturday in Worcester, the Australian Associated Press reported. The Australian team is in Worcester preparing for its opening World Cup match Sunday against Scotland. Richards said he reviewed Warne's column, which appeared in Friday's The Times newspaper -- the same day Sri Lanka lost to England in the tournament opener at Lord's -- and lodged a complaint alleging the Australian vice-captain had breached the ICC code of conduct. Warne faces a possible fine for his attack on Ranatunga, writing that cricket would be better off without the Sri Lankan captain. "Frankly, Sri Lanka -- and the game overall -- would be better off without him," Warne wrote in The Times. "I don't like him, and I'm not in a club of one," he added. Under ICC rules, Warne faces a fine or possible suspension for making a "public pronouncement or media comment which is detrimental either to the game in general, or to a particular tour in which they are involved." Warne also claimed the 35-year-old Sri Lankan batsman had, on occasions, failed to lead his team in the true spirit of the game. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) moved quickly on the issue, reportedly telephoning the team's hotel in Worcester as soon as the column was released to express its concerns. Ranatunga hit back in a post-match press conference late Friday, saying the Warne's comments "show more about Shane Warne and the Australian culture." "We come from 2,500 years of culture and we all know where they come from," he told journalists. The veteran of five world cups, who is still under a suspended six-match suspension for leading his side off the field during a match against England during the limited-overs series in Australia earlier this year, refused to explain his comments about the Australian culture. "I'll tell you when I've finished my cricket," he said. An ICC statement was expected later Saturday.   Related information Stories Waugh: Australia will show Scots no mercy Notebook: Sri Lanka's tactics, members won't pay Scots out to avoid humiliation by Australia Australians leave nothing to chance Warne: Cricket would be better off without Ranatunga Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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