India ready to help Sri Lanka in fixing probe, says Ranatunga
COLOMBO : India has offered to assist Sri Lanka with its inquiry into match-fixing in cricket and drafting laws to combat cheating in the game, a Sri Lankan cabinet minister said on Monday.
Sri Lanka’s Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could provide technical expertise in probing widespread allegations of corruption in cricket.
“I made the request, and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi immediately put me in touch with the CBI,” said Ranatunga, who also skippered Sri Lanka during their World Cup victory in 1996.
“We don’t have the expertise or the laws to deal with this problem in a proper manner. India promised to help us in drafting legislation too,” the minister said after returning from New Delhi.
The CBI named Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda de Silva in a match-fixing investigation in 2000 but the pair were cleared of any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, allegations of spot-fixing by English cricketers have been dismissed by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s Integrity Team and Cricket Australia.
The Al Jazeera television network said it had uncovered evidence of corruption in international cricket, including “a small group” of England players in seven matches between 2010 and 2012.
Unnamed Australia and Pakistan players were also accused by the broadcaster in a documentary broadcast on Sunday.
NASIR JAMSHED’S 10-YEAR BAN UPHELD
ISLAMABAD: An independent adjudicator upheld Nasir Jamshed’s 10-year ban on Monday for his involvement in spot-fixing in the Pakistan Super League.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that retired Justice Hamid Farooq found the punishment “perfectly justified” and shall remain in force.
Jamshed, a 28-year-old lefthanded opening batsman, had appealed against the PCB verdict two months ago.