Umpire on collision course with Murali

Controversial Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and hardline umpire Darrell Hair are back on collision course.

Five years ago, Australian official Hair repeatedly no-balled Murali for throwing during a Test match in Melbourne and later described the bowler's action as "diabolical".

Since then, the pair have been kept apart, pointedly so two winters ago when Hair stood in triangular tournament matches involving England and Australia but was not given any of Sri Lanka's games.

Ironically, Murali was still called for chucking on that tour - by another Australian umpire, Ross Emerson.

Now, though, Hair is listed to officiate here during Sunday's ICC knockout tournament quarter-final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Umpires have been urged to report any doubts they have about a bowler's action to the ICC, rather than taking decisive measures during a match. But that did not prevent Hair from calling Zimbabwe spinner, Grant Flower, for throwing while New Zealand were the opponents in Bulawayo last month.

Today, England were aiming to live up to their billing as an emerging force in one-day cricket. But, according to opposition captain Naimur Rahman, they needed to put Bangladesh in their place at the Gymkhana Club ground to justify that assessment.

"I think England have improved recently, in all departments - batting, bowling, fielding and tactics," said Rahman. "They have played fewer one-day matches than a lot of countries. They have started to play more, and that is why I think they have improved."

But Rahman believes his own team were in a no-lose situation.

"We are under no pressure here," he said. "Our fans back home expect a lot but as long as we play well, even if we lose, I think they will under-stand."

Bangladesh already have one scalp under their belt, having beaten Pakistan at Northampton in last year's World Cup.

Martyn Moxon, who coached England A against Bangladesh last winter said: "They are not to be taken lightly.

"They are a competitive side, with some good batsmen and steady bowlers, and coach Eddie Barlow will have them fired-up."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh are planning to invite England to play a Test in Dhaka next winter. A similar approach to visit this winter was rejected by Lord's.