SRI Lanka's players have made a secret pact to ignore Australian crowds who try to lure them into a verbal war this summer.

by - JON PIERIK (Adelaide)

The tourists decided at a 5pm team meeting on Wednesday - just hours after arriving into Adelaide - the best way to handle potential abuse when on the field was to just concentrate on the game.

The threat of racism is expected to be one issue discussed in a meeting between Sri Lankan and Australian officials today.

Sri Lankan team manager Shritam Samararatkne yesterday said his players would not return fire at abusive crowds.

"We spoke to them and they are quite aware of what the situation is," he said.

"They are not concerned. We have said just ignore. They want to play good cricket.

"You can't help those people if someone shouts out (abuse) after a lot of drink."

This message may be need to be heeded by champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been heckled by Australian spectators on previous tours.

"We are not worried about what they will say," Samararatkne said.

"It happens everywhere. We have to concentrate on our game and not listen to what they say."

If Muralitharan is racially abused, the tourists have not ruled out lodging an official complaint to the International Cricket Council under its new anti-racism policy.

The Australians opted not to do this in India when Andrew Symonds endured monkey-chants.

Samararatkne said: "Murali knows how to take up these things. He is mature enough to understand things, unlike when he was young."

Former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann was embroiled in a race controversy in 2002-03 when he abused the tourists as he made his way up to the Gabba dressingroom after being dismissed in a one-day match.

The remark prompted angry ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed to convene a hearing which led to a five-match suspension for the South Australian.

Lehmann said yesterday racism would not be tolerated.

"There is no place for it in sport," he said.

"It has been stamped out along the way and I hope it does not raise its head again."

Samararatkne said he was satisfied with the security plans in place for a two-Test tour which begins tomorrow with a three-day warm-up clash against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI.

"We are very happy with the way they are looking after us," he said.