MUMBAI: Sri Lanka’s former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has gain raised the bogey of match-fixing that has surfaced on and off around the 2011 World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
At the iconic Wankhede Stadium, the Men in Blue, led by MS Dhoni, won by six wickets with 10 balls to spare and it was the first instance of a team, winning the mega event on home soil.
“The 2011 final was fixed. I state it with responsibility and I can come forward for a debate… I would not involve the cricketers in this. However, certain groups were definitely involved in fixing the game,” he told News 1st on Thursday.
“I stand by what I say. It took place when I was the Minister of Sports… I do not wish to expose details for the sake of the country,” Aluthgamage further said. Really? Then why raise the issue at all?
Reacting to the claim, Mahela Jayawardene, who had scored an unbeaten 103 for Sri Lanka in the final, had this to say via his official Twitter handle: “Is the elections around the corner ?Looks like the circus has started ? names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC https://twitter.com/azzamameen/status/1273513614670848001 …”
Later in the day, Kumar Sangakkara, who had been the Sri Lanka captain in the World Cup, but resigned soon after, said the politician must provide evidence to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit because he has made very serious allegations.
“Then no one needs to speculate and can get to the bottom of this. That should be the most prudent course of action,” Sangakkara told News 1st.
