MELBOURNE, July 6 (AP): Sri Lankan cricket fans want Australian spinner l_..: _ r.Tu Shane Warne to orget about retirement and make the tour there next month.

Although Warne is a controversial figure in Sri Lanka after his World Cup criticism of former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, he commands plenty of support in the subcontinent.

Warne was. however, expected to be named next week in the Lankan tour party.

After starring in Australia's World Cup triumph last month, leg-spinner Warne said he was undecided about his future but he has not ruled himself out for Sri Lanka. "As far as we have been told everyone is available for selection for the tour," Australian chairman of selectors lYevor Hohns told the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.

The touring Test and one-day squads are to be announced next Monday.

Brendan McClements. the board's communications general manager, told AFP last

Friday that Warne, who came back to form with a bang at the World Cup, had yet to commit himself.

"The situation regarding Shane is unchanged. He requested some time to consider his international future and he is taking that time at the moment," McClements said.

ACB Operations Manager Richard Watson said from Sri Lanka last week, where he was inspecting facilities, that if Warne decided to continue Test cricket "he will be available for the Sri Lankan tour."

■ Warne's former spin partner Tim May. now the Australian Cricketers' Association president. returned from the island Monday overwhelmed by Sri Lanka's desire to see Warne in action.

Far from cheering at reports of a possible retirement by Warne. who has' staged a long-runnirig and bitter verbal war with Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga. Sri Lankan fans were urging him to make his third visit there. May said Tuesday. "Everywhere we went, all people wanted to know was whether Warne would be com-

ing," said May. who was in Sri Lanka with Watson and Australian team manager Steve Bernard to examine security arrangements for the three-Test tour.

"It's not like they want him to come so they can abuse him.

"They are genuine cricket lovers and the only antagonism was to their own players after the World Cup."

Australia are scheduled leave for Sri Lanka on August 16 and contest the one-day tournament from August 22-31. The three-Test series concludes on October s.

Australia then travel to Zimbabwe for their first Test, and three one-day internationals before returning home on October 25.

Warne, dropped from Aus-tralia's Test team on their tour of the West Indies in April, roared back to form in the World Cup one-day tournament in England.

He finished with 20 wickets, sharing top spot with New Zealander Geoff Allott, and was named man of the match in Australia's eight wicket rout of Pakistan in the final.