Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

ICC to probe corruption in Sri Lankan cricket

- HTC/Agencies sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: The Internatio­nal Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed it has initiated investigat­ions in Sri Lanka cricket. This comes after allegation­s of matchfixin­g by a former Sri Lanka cricketer Pramodaya Wickremesi­nghe. TheICC’sAnti-Corruption Unit officers recently visited the country.

ICC’s General Manager ( ACU), AlexMarsha­ll, said: “The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit works to up hold integrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigat­ions where there are reasonable grounds to do so. There is currently an ICC (ACU) investigat­ion underway in Sri Lanka. Naturally as part of this we are talking to a number of people.

“We will not comment any further on an ongoing investigat­ion. If anyone has informatio­n that would assist the ACU in its enquiries, we would urge them to get in touch, “Marshall said.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan players called for an immediate inquiry into the match-fixing allegation­s made by former

The ICC ACU works to uphold integrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigat­ions where there are grounds to do so. ALEX MARSHALL, ICC official

player Pramodaya Wickremesi­nghe against the current national team.

“The cricketers in a petition signed by all including both captain Di ne sh Chan di ma land Upul Tharanga to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have drawn attention to what they say was shocking ly disparagin­g and hurtful statements by Wickremesi­nghe to a private television channel that tend to give the general public a suspicious impression about them,” a SLC release said.

Wickremesi­nghe, amemberof the 1996 World Cup winning team and also a former selector, had said that certain members of the Sr iL an kan team had fixed games for money.

The players, who signed the petition, have challenged Wickremesi­nghe to prove his allegation­s.

Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga earlier said the Internatio­nal Cricket Council should investigat­e SLC chief Thilanga Sumathipal­a over alleged gambling links and the conduct of the Sri Lankan board.

“I want to know if the ICC has a backbone to check if these people (Sri Lank a Cricket management) are in compliance with ethics standards,” Ranatunga said.

 ?? REUTERS ?? The integrity of Sri Lankan cricket is under threat following allegation­s of matchfixin­g.
REUTERS The integrity of Sri Lankan cricket is under threat following allegation­s of matchfixin­g.

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