COLOMBO. July 6: (AFP/AP): Disgraced Sri Lankan cricket skipper Arjuna Ranatu-nga demanded airport protection on his return from the World Cup fearing he would be attacked.

Ranatunga. 35. returning after an extended stay in England following his side's humiliating exit from the World Cup raised doubts about his personal safety, the Lankadeepa daily reported today.

"The airport authorities provided him with the necessary protection but there was no untoward incident" when he arrived Monday, the Lankadeepa said, adding that Ranatunga's family returned on a separate flight.

Srl Lanka's cricket selectors were expected to axe Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda de Silva on Monday, but have delayed the announcement because they had not yet spoken to the player.

Master-blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Ma-hanama are seen as the likely contenders to lead Sri Lanka at next month's tournament here also involving Australia and India.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has t ruled out its cricketers playing in a friendly match against India on Saturday.

Cricket board officials said they did not want to risk players being injured ahead of the triangular tournament.:

Press reports here said all the top Indian players with the

exception of Mohamed Azharudeen were expected to play in the friendly at Mohali.

"We are giving great emphasis to the forthcoming Australian and Indian tour and we want the players to really work for it," cricket board chief Rien-

zie Wijetilleke said in a statement.

Sri Lankan cricket team was to visit India to take part in a promotional match at Mohall, in northern India, on July 10.

The invitation came before the Sri Lankan cricket board was reconstituted. It was accepted and the team had made plans to leave for India.

But the new board refused on grounds that it could interfere with preparations for the Sri Lanka-Australia-India tour scheduled for. August. ;After the.

triangular one-day tournament in" August. Australia will stay back to play three Test series against Sri Lanka.

Srl Lanka's cricket board was reconstituted after the country's poor performance at the World Cup in which the former world champions could not make it to the semifinal stage.

Meanwhile. Dav Whatmore. who is due to take up a four-year appointment as Sri Lanka’s coach, will leave Lancashire at the end of July.

Whatmore. under contract to Lancashire until the end of next season, was given his release by the Old Trafford committee and now has two County Championship matches against Glamorgan and Hampshire left in charge.

Chairman Jack Simmons said: "He has done a great Job but Sri Lanka has always been close to his heart."

Whatmore filled the Old Trafford gap left by Devid Loyd's exit in 1997 and last season led them to a NatWest Trophy-AXA League double. But now they are fighting the threat of second division championship cricket next year having slumped to fourth form bottom.

Whatmore said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and f will be sad to go but I'm sure the team will go from strength to strength."

Captain John Crawley will be responsible for all first-team duties until the end of the season. helped by the appointment of Warren Hegg as vice-captain.