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MOEEN’S FEARS OVER CRICKET’S CORRUPTION CRISIS
Moeen Ali has admitted his ‘ concern’ at the corruption crisis engulfing Sri lankan cricket and casting a shadow over england’s tour.
Today’s third one-day match at the Pallekele Stadium will be played amid allegations against Sri lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya and the prospect of another more recent big name being dragged into the affair.
There is no suggestion the alleged wrong-doing has anything to do with england or the current series, but Moeen knows they will have to adhere to the international Cricket Council’s pre-series warning to stay alert to the threat.
‘it is always a concern when it involves the sport we love and people pay to watch,’ said Moeen as england tried to prepare for another game that will probably be affected by rain.
‘We just carry on and play but you want people to watch thinking everything is right and played fairly. You don’t want people thinking, “is there money on this game?” or “Why is that guy struggling?” You don’t want people thinking, “is he playing for something else?”
‘This is so important because you want to inspire the next generation and bring new people to the game.’
Jayasuriya, one of the most significant figures in limited-overs history, reacted yesterday to two charges of breaching the iCC’s anti- corruption code by saying: ‘i have always conducted myself with integrity and transparency concerning the sport and will continue to do so. i am under advice to state the charges do not contain any allegations pertaining to match-fixing, pitch-fixing or any other corrupt activity.’
Sportsmail understands the iCC investigation centres on Sri lanka’s 3-2 home defeat by Zimbabwe in July 2017, when Jayasuriya was chairman of selectors.
Angelo Mathews stood down as captain in the wake of that shock one-day defeat and has been left out by Sri lanka now for what are said to be fitness reasons.
england were addressed by iCC anti- corruption chief Alex Marshall before the series and Moeen, who insists he has never been approached by any matchfixer, is confident eoin Morgan’s side will remain vigilant.
‘He was just keeping us aware,’ said Moeen of Marshall’s briefing. ‘it was good information that we need to know. As a group we don’t let anybody in. our job is to stay tight and protect the environment in the team.’
There was more rain in Kandy yesterday, the Pallekele Stadium pitch remaining covered, but there remained hope there would be enough dry weather for a game to be completed today. england, who won the second oDi, will have to make at least one change, with liam Dawson out of the tour with a side injury.
Joe Denly was yesterday en route to Sri lanka as a replacement for Dawson, whose place is expected to go to Tom Curran.
Sportsmail’s nasser Hussain said on Sky yesterday he believes Jayasuriya’s charge is the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in a country that has been dogged by strong rumours of corruption among some of its biggest players.
Sadly, the rest of england’s tour has to be viewed in that context.