Former Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on Thursday (June 18) took the cricketing fraternity by storm as he claimed that the 2011 World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed.

See Also: Sri Lanka govt orders investigation following 2011 World Cup final fixing claim 

While saying cricketers were not involved, Aluthgamage stressed that the team was changed at the last moment without consultation, although he was the sports minister then.

After Sri Lankan cricket greats Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara ridiculed his allegations and asked him to provide evidence, Aluthgamage responded by saying: “I don’t understand why Sanga and Mahela are making a big deal about this. I am not referring to any of our players. Everyone is talking about just two minutes of a half an hour interview I gave to a TV channel. Even Arjuna Ranatunga has openly talked about match fixing issues earlier.”

Following this statement from the ex-minister, Jayawardena took to Twitter and wrote: “When someone accuses that we sold the 2011 WC naturally it's a big deal cus we don't know how one could fix a match and not be part of the playing 11? Hopefully, we will get enlightened after 9 years...????”

This is not the first time allegations of match-fixing related to the 2011 World Cup final have emerged. In July 2017, legendary Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga had alleged fixing in the final and called for an inquiry.

"When we lost, I was distressed and I had a doubt. We must investigate what happened to Sri Lanka at the 2011 World Cup final," Ranatunga had said.

Coming to the 2011 World Cup final, Sri Lanka posted 274/6 in 50 overs on the back of Jayawardena’s unbeaten 88-ball 103.

In reply, India rode on Gautam Gambhir’s 122-ball 97 and skipper MS Dhoni’s 91* off 79 balls to overhaul the target with 10 balls to spare.

(Inputs from India Today)