Cricket: Shane warned off contract with Lashings.

AUSTRALIA'S cricket authorities are expected to tell Shane Warne that any attempt to bypass his drugs ban by resuming his career with the English club Lashings would be undermining their authority.

Warne was suspended for 12 months on February 22 after testing positive for a banned diuretic, which he claimed had been given to him by his mother,and had to give up a lucrative contract with county side Hampshire as a result.

He cannot,in practice,be barred from making his cricketing comeback with Lashings, the star-studdedKent-based club backed by millionaire David Folb, because they are a private team and therefore not under the jurisdiction of cricket's governing bodies.

But it is clearly a move which could land him in hot water with the Australian Cricket Board,even though Warne will argue that he will donate his earnings to charity.

The fact Lashings play exhibition rather than league matches provides a loophole allowing Warne to play again.

However, theACB have already intimated that they are unhappy about Warne opening talks with Lashings and are likely to tell him that he should reject the offer - as it would not be in the spirit of the game - and serve his full suspension.

``The ACB and Shane are working together on any sort of proposed activity while he's suspended,''Australia team media manager Jonathan Rose said.

``That's going to be put to the ACB board of directors (a meeting is sched-uled for April 11-13)for a policy decision, and as part of that the board will be asked their view on any nonrenumerated charity match.''

Lashings have confirmed that they are in talks to sign both Warne and Zimbabwean fast bowler Henry Olonga, who may quit cricket after fleeing his homeland in the wake of criticism following his black arm band protest against the President Robert Mugabe-led regime during the World Cup.

Their galaxy of stars makes them cricket's equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team,and this season their line-up will feature Warne's recently- retired international colleague Mark Waugh,West Indies players Stuart Williams, Sherwin Campbell, Jimmy Adams,Richie Richardson,Stuart Carlisle and Curtly Ambrose,and Zimbabwean Grant Flower and New Zealander Chris Harris. Previously,Sir Vivian Richards,Wasim Akram, Brian Lara,Allan Donald and Courtney Walsh have all made guest appearances.

Lashings chairman Folb said: ``We are at present awaiting responses from the agents of Olonga and Warne. Our desire to sign Olonga is selfexplanatory.''

CAPTION(S):

Shane Warne