Sri Lanka Cricket to cooperate with ICC in corruption probe
The Sri Lanka Cricket board has said that it has asked all players and staff to cooperate with the ICC's anti-corruption investigation, which was initiated after allegations by a former player. Calling the allegations unsubstantiated, the board said "We are committed to working closely with the ICC to complete this inquiry expeditiously and give our players the freedom to concentrate on playing their cricket."
No details have been revealed about what or who exactly is being probed, whether, it is a particular individual, a group or a particular match series.
Former player and selector Pramodaya Wickramasinghe alleged that there was foul play during the 4th ODI against Zimbabwe, the series which Sri Lanka lost 2-3 at home. He had cast doubt at the then captain Angelo Mathews batting higher in the order at No.3 instead of the regular No.5 position. Wickramasinghe also criticized Mathews for not bowling Malinga at a crucial stage of the match.
In a letter signed by 40 Sri Lankan players, a probe was demanded into the "baseless allegations" made by Wickramasinghe. The likes of Test captain Dinesh Chandimal, and ODI captain Upul Tharanga are among the players asking for the inquiry. This is seen as an effort to back Angelo Mathews who came under fire after the series loss to Zimbabwe.
One of the players who signed the letter said this, about allegations against Mathews, "As a captain, you have to take instant decisions. They work at times and don't sometimes. That's part of the sport." He also said Malinga was not played after a point in match as light was fading and "umpires said the play will be suspended if a fast bowler bowled."
Wickramasinghe said that he did not level allegations against any players and all he wanted was an inquiry into the "floating rumours" of corruption following a series of losses by the Lankan cricket team.
