Sangakkara's ten-hour interrogation in 2011 World Cup final probe triggers protests

The then Sri Lanka captain was questioned in an investigation launched after fixing allegation.

The 2011 World Cup final is claimed to have been fixed | AFP Captain of Sri Lanka at the time, Kumar Sangakkara, was interrogated for almost ten hours on Thursday (July 2) at the Police Unit of the Sports Ministry over claims that the 2011 World Cup final loss to India was fixed. 

While Sangakkara was being questioned, a protest against the investigation was held outside the Sports Ministry’s office.

Read Also: Former sports minister who said Sri Lanka sold 2011 World Cup final to India, says it’s his suspicion

The youth wing of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya organised the protest and it said that the demonstration was held against the "continuous harassment of Kumar Sangakkara and other cricketers over unsubstantiated match-fixing allegations," as per newswire.lk.

The party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Sajith Premadasa also tweeted against the investigation, stating: "continuous harassment of @KumarSanga2 and our 2011 cricket heroes must be strongly opposed. Governmentbehaviourr is deplorable."

The investigation was launched following claims made by former Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, that the final played on April 2, 2011, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was fixed. 

Statements from Aluthgamage, former Chairman of the National Selection Committee Aravinda de Silva and Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga have already been recorded. Sangakkara was added to the list after being summoned by the Sports Ministry. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 03 Jul, 2020

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