Gaming Company sponsored Sri Lankan cricketers in Asia Cup | Daily News

Gaming Company sponsored Sri Lankan cricketers in Asia Cup

Minister had advised SLC not to put betting logos in national jersey of cricketers
Minister promises to inquire
Minister not aware about the T10 tournament organized by SLC until he saw it in the media
Previous Lanka Premier League (LPL) played without Ministry approval and approval not sought to play LPL next month
Sri Lankan cricketers wearing the jersey at the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022. (File Photo)
Sri Lankan cricketers wearing the jersey at the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022. (File Photo)

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe is very concerned about Sri Lanka Cricketers being sponsored by a betting company at the last Asia Cup held in the UAE. The minister plans to take action over this issue, Sports Ministry Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva said yesterday. Referring to a betting company ‘FairPlay’ sponsoring Sri Lankan Cricketers during the Asia Cup, the Sports Minister said that he has advised Sri Lanka Cricket to not to put betting logos in the national jersey of Sri Lankan cricketers.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara questioned on selecting ‘FairPlay’ as the Official National Team Sponsor of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team.

“The National Cricket Team is sponsored by a betting and gaming company. What more is left to say about its fate? Three more betting and gaming companies were involved. One may even raise doubts of match fixing. Sri Lanka Cricket officials, who went to Dubai, were each given a petty cash of US$ 800 per day, at a time our foreign exchange has dwindled. Dissolve this Cricket Board and appoint a Committee,” MP Bandara said.

Responding to MP Bandara, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said ‘FairPlay’ is clearly a betting and gaming company, and the Sri Lankan national cricketers donning ‘FairPlay’ on their jerseys is inappropriate and a disrepute to the country, said.

The Minister told Parliament that he had communicated this to Sri Lanka Cricket.

The Secretary of the Sports Ministry further added Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has said that the previous Lanka Premier League (LPL) has been played without the approval of the Sports Ministry and also they have not sought approval to play the LPL next month as well. “We wanted to conduct cricket the right way following proper rules. We never hold these events without approvals. It’s good to see good investment at this hard period but we have to conduct this the proper way with approvals”, he noted.

The Sports Minister further stated in Parliament that he was not aware about the T10 tournament organized by SLC, until he saw it in the media. The SLC already launched the T10 cricket tournament which is going to be held in June 2023.

Sri Lanka Cricket is doing a good work and they have good income at this hard period. However there are some issues we have to sort out and go forward as the Sports Ministry we are very concerned about these issues, Dr. Silva said.

 


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