The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Saturday that it had launched an investigation into Sri Lankan cricket after allegations of match-fixing by former cricketer Pramodya Wickramasinghe.
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officers have visited Sri Lanka in this regard.
Former Islanders pacer Wickramasinghe had alleged wrongdoings in the country’s 3-2 defeat to Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI series in July earlier this year.
Wickramasinghe, also a former selector, had made the particular allegation with regards to the fourth match of the series which the hosts lost via the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Following the sensational claims of the former selector, 40 Sri Lankan players including Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal and ODI captain Upul Tharanga had signed a letter urging Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to launch an immediate enquiry into the allegations which they consider to be shocking and demeaning.
“The cricketers in a petition signed by all including both captain Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have drawn attention to what they say was shockingly disparaging and hurtful statements by Wickremesinghe to a private television channel that tend to give the general public a suspicious impression about them,” a SLC release said.
National cricketers refute Pramodya’s baseless allegations; request SLC for inquiry. READ: https://t.co/cAfl8l8i7p
— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) September 22, 2017
The ICC’s General Manager (ACU) Alex Marshall confirmed that officers have visited the country regarding the allegations and that an investigation was underway.
“The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit works to uphold integrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigations where there are reasonable grounds to do so. There is currently an ICC (ACU) investigation underway in Sri Lanka. Naturally as part of this we are talking to a number of people,” Marshall said.
“We will not comment any further on an ongoing investigation. If anyone has information that would assist the ACU in its enquiries ([email protected]), we would urge them to get in touch, “ he added.
Wickramasinghe was a member of the 1996 World Cup-winning side from the island and played 40 Tests and 134 ODIs for the country.