Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has vehemently refuted allegations made by Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage during a media briefing of Friday (24), which accused the SLC President, the Tournament Director of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), and other SLC officials of involvement in match- fixing and corrupt conduct related to the LPL.
In a statement, SLC states that as the ‘responsible governing body for cricket in Sri Lanka and the supreme authority organizing the LPL since its inception in 2020’, they have ‘consistently prioritized the integrity of the sport.’
The statement further notes :
To this end, SLC has engaged the services of the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ICC-ACU) to oversee all anti-corruption measures for the LPL tournament. The recent LPL player auction was also attended and monitored by ICC ACU officials as part of their ongoing support.
We wish to clarify that SLC’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of cricket led to the engagement of ICC ACU officials in this process, and it was these ICC ACU officials who informed the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offenses Relating to Sports about suspicious activities involving one of the owners of the Dambulla team. This information resulted in the arrest made by local police authorities.
SLC stands firm in its dedication to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in cricket. We will continue to cooperate fully with the ICC and local law enforcement authorities to ensure the sport remains free from corruption and misconduct.
