LANKA SPORTS MINISTER WILLING TO PROBE 2011 WORLD CUP FINAL
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said he is willing to order a probe on the 2011 World Cup final defeat against India following concerns raised by former captain-turnedminister Arjuna Ranatunga. “Let anyone make a written complaint, I am ready to order an investigation,” Jayasekera told reporters. Ranatunga, who was present at the Wankhede Stadium as a commentator, had said that Sri Lankan performance on the day was questionable and it must be investigated. Jayasekera’s response came after comments made by his predecessor Mahindananda Aluthgamage who was also present at the match where Sri Lanka lost after posting 274. Aluthgamage told a local TV channel that the manager’s report had claimed that a senior Sri Lankan player had smoked as many as 50 cigarettes in the dressing room during the game and the then captain offered to resign immediately after the game. He said there were many such suspicious incidents concerning the game which he told the then cricket management committee to probe. The controversy over the 2011 final raged after Sri Lanka’s first ever loss to Zimbabwe in the ODIs. In an apparent bit to hit back at Ranatunga, Kumar Sangakkara, who was captain, called for a probe on the decision made to tour Pakistan in 2009 despite player safety concerns. The team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore, injuring several players which led to international teams deciding not to tour Pakistan.