Sri Lanka planning tougher laws against cricket matchfixing

COLOMBO: I am getting new laws drafted for this purpose and I am also proposing a special police unit to enforce the proposed legislation.

Sri Lanka will enact tougher laws and create a special police unit to deal with match-fixing following the Al Jazeera TV documentary exposing global corruption in cricket, sports minister Faiszer Musthapha said on Thursday.

The minister said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had advised him to legislate against the practice after three Sri Lanka officials were filmed agreeing to sway matches. “I am getting new laws drafted and I am also proposing a special police unit to enforce the proposed legislation,” he told reporters in Colombo afterfrom talks with ICC in Dubai.

Sri Lanka Cricket has already suspended three employees -- two coaches and the curator of an international stadium -- after they were caught in the sting by Al Jazeera. The board has also lodged a complaint with police, who have launched a criminal investigation.

The documentary broadcast on May 27, suggested England and Australia players had also been involved in match-fixing in India. England captain Joe Root and Australia skipper Tim Paine F MUSTHAPHA, Sports minister

have dismissed the allegations relating to their respective teams.

Musthapha was in Dubai explaining to ICC officials why a Sri Lankan appeals court last week suspended elections for top positions at the cricket board. Former board president Thilanga Sumathipala is seeking re-election but has faced accusations of being linked to gambling. He denies the charges.

Officers of ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit have arrived in Colombo for a probe on the Al Jazeera sting, cricket website Cricbuzz quoted an ICC spokesman as saying.

Officials are expected to meet individuals linked in the documentary that included two former international cricketers, a first-class cricketer and the assistant manager of Galle Stadium.