Sri Lanka Cricket has invited the ICC anti-corruption unit to investigate the match-fixing allegations earlier made in the Sri Lanka parliament. The encounter in question is the first Test of Pakistan’s tour in July, in which Pakistan chased down 342 in the fourth innings to take a 1-0 lead.
Defending the target, Sri Lankan bowlers could only pick six wickets on the fourth and fifth day turning pitch. The member of parliament Nalin Bandara had made the allegations in the parliament last month.
“In the last Pakistan series, our team scored 400-odd, and still lost in the last innings. From the person who rolls the pitch, everyone has been given money. The board has become a gambling den,”
he said.
Notably, Bandara offered no evidence to support his claims in his speech which was mostly around the board’s alleged mismanagement of its players. He also referenced his ongoing feud with SLC president Shammi Silva. Bandara’s speech comes under parliamentary privilege and is immune to defamation suits.
The anti-corruption unit led by Alex Marshall, did not make any comments on the investigation or whether the match is being viewed as suspicious.
Sri Lanka Cricket released a statement in which they did not specifically mention Bandara but said his comments have done immense damage to their reputation.
“SLC believes that it is the correct course of action to take in light of the recent allegations made by the aforementioned parliamentarian, which have caused immense reputational damage to Sri Lanka Cricket and its stakeholders.”
