THE Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) has imposed a gag order on umpires until their boycott threat is resolved.

A meeting between MCA's top brass, led by vice president C. Sivanandan, and 12 senior umpires has been scheduled for tomorrow at the Kinrara Oval in Bandar Kinrara to hear their views.

The umpires had threatened to stop officiating in any matches involving the national team or national players, including the MCA Premier League and Division 1, after growing frustrated with the alleged level of abuse they have come in for from national players.

In addition, MCA will also hold an inquiry into an incident during the May 31 Klang Mamangam-RMAF Hawk Franchise League match involving Mamangam's former national captain Suresh Navaratnam and umpire Sri Murigak Madhavan.

Sri Murigak will also be called to another inquiry at a later date over his report into the conduct of national interim coach Romesh Kaluwitharana and national captain Rohan Vishnu Suppiah during a practice match involving the national team on June 22.
Kaluwitharana, who is on a break in Colombo, and Rohan Vishnu are alleged to have physically and verbally abused umpires Sri Murigak and Poobalan Loganathan during the match.

Sri Murigak and Suresh have been banned from participating in any MCA sanctioned cricket tournament while the umpires concerned are not permitted to issue statements on the matter.

"In the interim, we trust you would refrain from making statements to the media," said MCA honorary secretary R. Suppiah in his letter to the umpires last week.

Meanwhile, medium pace bowler Sarath Ananthasivam and off-spinner Nik Azril Nik Ariffin have withdrawn from the national squad preparing for the July 23-Aug 3 ACC Trophy due to studies.

Their withdrawals leaves 16 players in the squad, which will be reduced to 14 players, when Kaluwitharana announces the final squad next week.