Sri Lanka Cricket to take Pramodya files to CID
United to fight unfounded allegations: National cricketers want an immediate inquiry against Pramodya Wickramasinghe for making 'shocking' statements.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to appoint a committee to investigate into some 'serious' allegations made by former national cricketer Pramodya Wickramasinghe against the national cricketers.
Speaking to a private TV channel, Wickramasinghe recently questioned former captain Angelo Mathews' tactics during the ODI series against Zimbabwe and also the 'controversial' decision taken by stand-in skipper Chamara Kapugedara to bat first after winning the toss during the third ODI against India.
Even though he did not name the players concerned, it was obvious Wickremasinghe was referring to the above two players. "These are serious allegations. We will also discuss at board level and see what further action we could take from our end," a top SLC official said last night.
Wickramasinghe questioned why the former skipper promoted himself to bat at number three instead of in his customary number five position and also why he did not bring in fast bowlers during Zimbabwe's run chase in the rain-affected fourth match. The third allegation was against Kapugedara, who had reportedly gone against the wishes of the team management to field first after winning the toss.
After Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with openers adding 209 runs, skipper Mathews took a calculated risk and promoted himself to bat at number three to push the score up. He made 42 off 40 balls but wickets kept falling at the other end as Sri Lanka ended their innings on 300 for six. However, Wickremasinghe alleged that Sri Lanka would have collected at least 50 more runs had they stuck to their original batting order.
Chasing 301 to win, the play was interrupted in the 21st over with Zimbabwe on 139 for 3. At that stage, Zimbabwe were ahead of the par score by nine runs. Play resumed with Zimbabwe being set a revised target of 219 in 31 overs. With a fading light, Mathews could not use the seam bowlers as advised by the umpires. So he had no option but to employ spinners in the last stage of the inning. Even though floodlights were available, SLC had taken a decision not to deploy them due to high cost.
Angered by the serious allegations, players on Thursday wrote to their employer SLC to initiate an immediate inquiry to ensure fairness to the cricketers whose names have been sullied. The letter, signed by 40 national cricketers, have drawn attention to what they say were shocking and hurtful statements by Wickremasinghe to a private television station that created suspicions among the general public.
"We were shocked when we first heard these unfounded allegations. As cricketers we are flabbergasted by these allegations which also tend to arouse suspicions among the fans," the letter reads. "We give 200 per cent commitment when we play for the country even sacrificing our precious time with our families. So these allegations of playing unnaturally and to please third parties baffle us."
Refuting the charges as totally baseless, they expressed profound shock and displeasure at the former national cricketer and selector. "We urge Sri Lanka Cricket to initiate an immediate inquiry by summoning Wickremasinghe. We, as cricketers, are ready to cooperate fully into any such investigations at any time. We also request Sri Lanka Cricket to act immediately when allegations of this nature are levelled against cricketers by people directly or indirectly involved in the game of cricket," the letter concludes.
Meanwhile issuing a media statement last evening, Wickramasinghe denied making 'allegations' against players but said he was only bringing out the floating rumors. "....I have not made any disparaging statements or expressed sentiments implicating the players of the Sri Lanka team to hurt their feelings. All what I did was to bring out the floating rumours and call for a proper inquiry by a competent authority to ensure that the players have the proper environment to play the game in performing to the best of their ability," the statement said.