New Delhi: Former India captain Bishan Bedi Friday lashed out at Muthiah Muralitharan's bowling action, saying the Sri Lankan spinner should be throwing the javelin rather than bowling.

"In my book, he is not a bowler. He should have been throwing javelin at the Asian Games or Olympics as he is a good athlete," said Bedi, a former left-arm spinner with 266 Test wickets and renowned for his smooth bowling action.

"His (Muralitharan's) name should be expunged from the record books," PTI news agency quoted Bedi as saying.

Muralitharan, the world's third-highest wicket-taker with 310 in 206 One-dayers, was twice called for 'throwing' on Sri Lanka's 1995-96 tour of Australia before being cleared by the International Cricket Council.

Commenting on the ongoing doping row involving Australian leg spinner Shane Warne, Bedi said taking performance-enhancing drugs was a "petty theft" compared to the murder of the game with "chuckers floating around".

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Sanath springs to Murali's defence on new 'chucking' row