Almost a decade since that famous night at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Sri Lanka’s sports ministry last month ordered an investigation to take place regarding the 2011 World Cup final between the Island nation and eventual winners, India.
The probe intensified on Thursday (July 1) as Kumar Sangakkara, skipper of the team in 2011 World Cup, was asked to record his statement before the sports ministry’s special investigating unit.
Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror newspaper quoted SSP WAJH Fonseka as saying that the investigating unit has summoned Sangakkara to appear at 9 am on Thursday.
The probe has been launched following former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that the national cricket team’s loss in the showpiece tournament’s final was fixed.
The investigators also recorded statements from the legendary Aravinda De Silva, who was chief selector during the 2011 World Cup, and Upul Tharanga, who was opening batsman in that match. Aluthgamage had recorded his statement on June 24 before the special investigation unit.
Coming to the 2011 World Cup final, Sri Lanka had posted 274/6 in 50 overs on the back of Mahela 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.
“I tell you today that we sold the 2011 World Cup final,” Aluthgamage told local media on June 18. “Even when I was sports minister I believed this. In 2011, we were to win, but we sold the match. I feel I can talk about it now. I am not connecting players, but some sections were involved.”
Afterwards, Jayawardena and Sangakkara had ridiculed the claims of Aluthgamage, asking him to provide evidence for the allegations.
In reply, Aluthgamage told Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror on June 19: “Mahela has said that the circus has started. I don’t understand why Sanga and Mahela are making a big deal about this. I am not referring to any of our players.”
In a fresh tweet that day, Jayawardena said: “When someone accuses that we sold the 2011 WC naturally it’s a big deal because 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, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga had alleged fixing in the final and called for an inquiry.
(Inputs from PTI)
