Mumbai, November 12 By Bipin Dani

Sri Lanka's opening batsman Marvan Atapattu who is turning 37 on 22nd November may not be allowed to participate in the second Test (Nov. 16-20) at Hobart and instead may be asked to return home.

"Our president (Jayantha Dharmadasa) is not in the country and is expected to return only on Monday evening. The decision will be taken thereafter", K. Mathivanan, the honorary secretary, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said to this scribe over telephone from Colombo on Sunday morning.

The team manager Shriyan Samararatne is believed to have e-mailed his report immediately on Saturday when Atapattu was projected for a press-conference following his fightback (he scored -51-runs) against Australia and slammed the selectors as 'muppets' and that too in the middle on the series. "Sri Lankan cricket, at this moment in time, is not going the way, the direction, it should be going," he said. "Especially with the muppets, basically, headed by a joker", he said on Saturday.

"The matter will not be referred to the disciplinary committee (headed by Camillus Abeygunawardena, the former DIG police). The disciplinary committee mainly handles in the domestic problems. Atapattu's case will be handled by the interim committee", Mathivanan further added.

Asantha De Mel, when approached was visibly upset with this development but preferred to remain silent. "It is up to the SLC board to decide about the action. I don't want to say anything:, he said.

The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson. Calling selectors as a bunch of jokers was also said by India's Mohinder Amarnath few years ago.

Courtesy - Daily Mirror