Cops quiz Silva in fixing probe

Colombo, July 1: The Sri Lankan police on Tuesday said it has questioned former national selection committee chairman Aravinda de Silva over exSports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that the national cricket team’s loss to India in the 2011 World Cup final was fixed by “certain parties”.

Aluthgamage has alleged that his country “sold” the game to India, a claim that was ridiculed by former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who demanded evidence from him.

De Silva, the then chairman of selectors, was quizzed for over six hours by the police.

Aluthgamage on June 18 made the allegation but later backtracked, saying it was just his suspicion.

A special police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage’s statement last week.

De Silva, who was the man of the match in the 1996 World Cup final which Sri Lanka won, was summoned by the police on Tuesday to record his statement.

Police sources said that

Upul Tharanga, the opener who played the 2011 final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, would be quizzed next.

Post Aluthgamage’ss allegation, De Silva has asked the BCCI to conduct its own investigation.

De Silva said he was willing to travel to India to take part in an investigation despite the current Covid-19 pandemic.

SANGAKKARA ASKED TO RECORD STATEMENT

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been asked to record his statement in front of a special investigating unit of the Sports Ministry probing allegations that the country’s 2011 World Cup Final loss to India was fixed, local media reported here.

Sangakkara was captain of the Sri Lankan team at that time.

According to local newspaper Daily Mirror, which quoted SSP W. A. J. H. Fonseka, a Special Investigation Division of the Ministry of Sports has asked Sangakkara to record his statement.

Sangakkara has been asked to appear before the unit on Thursday. — PTI