‘Gamage’ gate

Now that the match fixing allegations of the 2011 Cricket World Cup final between Sri Lanka and India have been called baseless by the police spokesperson, there are a number of issues that need solving and must be made public.

1. Why did the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Sports Ministry start and continue recording ‘evidence’ from legendary cricketers like Aravinda de Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga, when the incumbent Sports Minister himself said at the outset that neither the ICC nor SLC had received any complaints about the said match fixing?

2. Why did the Sports Ministry or SIU fail to inform the public of the 6-page complaint by the 2011 Sports Minister, as the allegations were serious and criminal in nature?

3. Was it the idea of the 2011 Sports Minister to belittle the cricketing legends and shame them for speaking against the construction of an international cricket stadium in Homagama?

4. Who is going to bear the cost of these uncalled for and unwanted investigations? This whole episode reminds us of the impediments faced by the allied forces as they moved inward on D-day in Normandy, France. It is recorded that ‘MUD’ was the worst obstacle faced by the allied forces on that day.an American punster has said ‘MUD’ stands for ‘Men Under Demention’. How true this is. The Sports Minister of 2011 and most politicians then and now could be easily grouped under this category.

-ATHULA RATNAYAKE