Former India Under-19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra was arrested in Colombo on Friday (July 17) for allegedly attempting to bribe players during the Lanka Premier League (LPL), news agency PTI reported.

Kalra, a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise, was taken into custody by the Police Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports. He was later produced before a magistrate.

Kalra was famously the hero of India's 2018 Under-19 World Cup victory, where he blasted an unbeaten 101 in the final against Australia. His playing career subsequently stalled due to age-fraud controversies in domestic cricket, prompting his transition into sports entrepreneurship and his recent investment in the Jaffna Kings.

According to Sri Lankan Police, the investigation was triggered 10 days earlier when a player reported Kalra's initial corrupt approach.

Police said Sri Lankan international players Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, and Dunith Wellalage—all members of the Jaffna Kings squad—filed the formal complaint.

Despite the high-profile arrest hours before the opening match between the Jaffna Kings and Galle Gallants at the SSC Grounds, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the tournament will proceed as planned without interruption.

SLC reiterated its "zero-tolerance" policy toward corruption, noting that its Anti-Corruption Unit is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

(With PTI Inputs)