19 June 2004	Saturday	30 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

COLOMBO, June 18: Top Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on Friday insisted he would not change his mind on boycotting next month's cricket tour of Australia, but said he harboured no hatred towards Australians.

Muralitharan, speaking to reporters after signing up with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) here, said he was adamant not to tour Australia but would visit the country later as a tourist.

Muralitharan, with a world-record 527 Test wickets to his credit, confirmed on Tuesday he would boycott the tour after Australian Prime Minister John Howard had called him a "chucker." "I have no hatred towards the Australian people," he said. -AFP