Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is currently fighting the deep-rooted corruption in the country and the Cabinet Minister has confirmed on Monday (October 22) that India is ready to assist them with its inquiry into match-fixing in the country.
India has offered to help Sri Lanka regarding match-fixing in cricket after former Sri Lankan skipper and Petroleum Minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide technical expertise of their Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in inquiring the allegations of corruption in the country.
Sri Lanka had promised to set up a special police unit to investigate the fixing in the match after a documentary circulated in May in which cricket was accused of massive global corruption.
To add fire on the matter, on Monday, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was arrested for alleged financial fraud after a complaint lodged by the SLC to the Police.
Before this, Galle groundsman Tharanga Indika and Cricketer Tharindu Mendis reportedly speculated about fixing the pitch to make sure a result come in under four days in a match against England.
However, the two have been suspended along with the provincial coach Jeevantha Kulatunga by the SLC while the further inquiry will be taken by an ICC investigation.
Ranatunga told reporters, “India has specialized knowledge on the issue having taken action against many corrupt activities in match-fixing. The Prime Minister (Sri Lankan) and I made a special request to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately put me in touch with the CBI. He pledged assistance.”
He signed off by saying, “We don't have the expertise or the laws to deal with this problem in a proper manner. India promised to help us in drafting legislation too.”
Noteworthy, former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been charged for not cooperating with a match-fixing probe and revealing information regarding the same, is under investigation by the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit, along with several others in the country.
(Input: AFP)
