So far, there’s no proof of match-fixing at the 2011 Cricket World Cup final, Sports Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said. He was speaking at a press briefing held in (where?), yesterday. He added, “I asked the Sports Ministry Secretary, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), and the International Cricket Council (ICC), and got to know that they have found no proof to support this allegation.
Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage made this accusation, and I ordered the Sports Ministry’s Special Investigative Unit to look into the matter.” Meanwhile, former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage handed over a six-page report consisting eight additional documents to the special officers at Narahenpita on Wednesday. After he handed over the report, former Minister Aluthgamage said, “Why I decided to make this allegation now is because of the charge levelled by ICC Anti-corruption Unit Headed by Alex Marshall on December 23, 2018, that Sri Lanka is the most corrupt country in the world of Test Cricket.
“I have mentioned 24 instances that are suspicious which caused Sri Lanka to lose the 2011 World Cup tournament. Some players expressed their views even after I said that players are not connected to those allegations. All parties should assist with this investigation, and not male it about politics. Don’t make it an issue at the forthcoming general election. I request both the President and the Sports Minister to give us a report on the investigation within three months,” he said. Former National Selection Committee Head Aravinda de Silva, in an interview, told a local television channel over the weekend that he had requested the Indian Government and Indian Cricket Board to immediately launch an investigation into Aluthgamage’s allegation. “The team selection was not done by me alone. There was the Captain (Kumar Sangakkara), and many more involved in picking the final eleven (for the final match). If former Minister Aluthgamage has proof, why did he make this allegation after nine years? He should reveal the names of those who are involved, to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit,” de Silva said.
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