Cricket Match Fixing: SLC invites ACU to investigate Galle Test- Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) intervene and probe the MATCH-FIXING allegations hovering around the home Test series against Pakistan, held in July. The development comes weeks after a member of Parliament from the opposition, Nalin Bandara, alleged match-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in July. The two-match series played in Galle ended in a 1-1 draw.Watch IND vs NZ LIVE Streaming on Prime Video and Follow India vs NewZealand ODI Series LIVE updates on Insidesport.IN
Cricket Match Fixing: ICC’s Anti-Corruption UNIT to INVESTIGATE Sri Lanka-Pakistan Galle Test for Match-Fixing Allegations, SLC invites ACU intervention
Sri Lanka Cricket Board also released a statement and said:
“The executive committee of SLC decided today to invite Mr Alex Marshall, the General Manager of the ICC anti corruption unit to Sri Lanka to investigate recent allegations of match fixing made by a parliamentarian regarding the recently concluded Pakistan tour.”
Sri Lanka Cricket decided to invite Mr. Alex Marshall, the General Manager of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, to Sri Lanka to investigate recent allegations of “match fixing” made by a parliamentarian regarding the recently concluded Pakistan Tour.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) November 23, 2022
The first Test at Galle, which is under the ACU scanner, was won by Pakistan. It was played between July 16 and 20. The visitors chased down a record 342 runs in the 4th inning, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten hundred (160) by opener Abdullah Shafique.
The second test was won by Sri Lanka by 246 runs, with both teams sharing the honours.
Pakistan Cricket Board responds to match-fixing allegations
The PCB has refused to make any comments on the allegations. As reported by Geo News, a PCB official was quoted as saying that neither the ICC nor the SLC have reached out to them on the matter.
“No one — neither the ICC nor has the Sri Lanka Board — approached us on the recent allegations made by one of the opposition leaders regarding the 1-1 drawn Test series between the two countries. So unless and until we are being approached, we are not in a position to say anything.”
“If the Sri Lanka Board wants to investigate their players, they are free to do that. The PCB has nothing to do with it as it has something to do with SL cricketers. We will only react if the SL Board or ICC approaches us. So far there is no such thing,” the PCB official added.
According to ICC rules, its ACU unit always keeps a close eye on all international matches. Reportedly, their members were also in Sri Lanka during the July series.
What makes the allegations even worse is that the series was played during the height of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis this year. The crisis witnessed stressful political unrest, power cuts, and nationwide fuel shortages.
Sri Lankan Cricket in Tatters
It’s no secret that Sri Lankan cricket is not in the best of health at the moment. The SLC has been hit hard by infighting and political differences between stakeholders in the recent past. According to former sports minister Harin Fernando, the ICC considers SLC as one of the world’s most corrupt nations.
Sri Lanka Cricket has been the subject of numerous allegations in the past. The prominent one being including 1996 World Cup hero, Sanath Jayasuriya, who was banned for two years in 2019. Although, nothing has been confirmed by the ICC yet, it is expected that its ACU unit will respond to the request made by the SLC given its recent history.
Sri Lanka will be without Bhanuka Rajapaksa for the #CWCSL series against Afghanistan 👀
Full squad details 👉 https://t.co/Eo82jDMZKs
Catch all the action from #SLvAFG ODIs on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select region) 📺 pic.twitter.com/VpVV522c6f
— ICC (@ICC) November 24, 2022
Cricket Match Fixing: ICC’s Anti-Corruption UNIT to INVESTIGATE Sri Lanka-Pakistan Galle Test for Match-Fixing Allegations, SLC invites ACU intervention
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