Lankan Cricket in turmoil in its real meaning
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ICC ACU GM Alex Marshall speaks on the investigations into allegations of corruption within Sri Lankan cricket.
Finally, the ‘tiger’ has come to the village and thus has begun its business. Yes, for almost two years or more, we, at the Sunday Musings, were shouting our throats dry “tiger, tiger – all’s not well at the cricket’s broth”. But nobody seemed to care. So, the despicable just rolled on unabated, so much so, that people began to live by the Goebbels’ theory – the Sri Lankan version now.
Last week, we shouted out about the impending cricket disaster saying we were at the doorstep of the biggest scandal in cricket’s history – a scandal that could be called bigger than the Hansie Cronje episode that rocked South Africa’s cricket two decades ago.
On Wednesday, Sri Lankan newspapers were full of the story, quoting Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha as saying that the ICC had signalled a red alert on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), over the current status quo. The ICC has described the SLC to be the biggest culprit in match-fixing and, if we cannot take immediate remedial action, the ICC will have to review Sri Lanka’s test status, and also review all monetary assistance to the beleaguered SLC.
The story also said the ICC officials had discussed the situation with President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Minister Musthapha. At present cricket has been brought under the purview of the Sports Minister as a result of the ongoing court case challenging the eligibility of former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala. The case was filed when he tried to re-contest for the SLC presidency in May this year.
The person who complained about the near $5.5 million heist SLC CEO Ashley de Silva walks out of the CID office. Walking behind de Silva is SLC ICC anti corruption unit head Ayesh Weerakkody. -Pic by Lahiru Harshana
The hottest in the potpourri of misdemeanours is an alleged fraud that deprived the SLC 15% of the payout fee — US$ 165,000 — from the Sony Corporation for the South African Series’ TV rights. Now, the present hot topic that has rocked SLC comes in the wake of US$ 11.1 million that nearly went into an account in Hong Kong, two weeks ago, with the final destination of the monies being an account in Mexico. Now, there is enough room to speculate that the missing US$ 165,000 has already reached its destination in another bank in Mexico. It is said the US$ 165,000 fraud was as only a test run, before the mega loot was tried out, only to fail. It is learned that SLC Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva, was interviewed by the Criminal Investigation Dept, with regard to the above for nearly eight hours.
Back to the ICC scandal — With regard to the Lankan issue, the ICC on Thursday issued a statement which read:
“Statement from Alex Marshall, General Manager (GM) – ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
“We are currently in Sri Lanka as part of our ongoing investigations into serious allegations of corruption in cricket in the country. The enquiries are continuing, so it would not be appropriate to comment further, but I can confirm that we have, at their request, provided a detailed briefing to the Sri Lanka President, the Prime Minister and the sports minister. We are receiving full support from the competent authority (CA) currently in place at SLC, whilst elections for the SLC Board are pending.
“I’d like to make it clear that, these investigations have been underway for a considerable time and do not relate to the series about to start in Sri Lanka. However, I will take this opportunity to brief both teams over the coming days, to ensure they remain alert to the risks from would-be corruptors.”
Meanwhile, in the face of the current crisis, the sports minister also ordered a complete forensic audit of SLC’s accounts of the past three years. It should be mentioned here that former national cricket captain Michael Tissera, for a considerable time now, had been making this plea.
Speculation is rife that two former national cricket captains, one of whom was a national cricket selector, top the suspects’ list. The other is a prominent administrator who also has his tentacles in other activities, too. Furthermore, it is already established that the two mobile phones that belonged to a former national fast bowler, have been detained by the ICC authorities. Besides, there are a few more names that are circling but, finally, it would be up to the ICC authorities to size them up and call a spade a spade, if they have to. Speculation is a very unhealthy practice.
We have explained that under the prevailing laws in the country, no body could be punished for match fixing. So what action has the SLC taken about the fast bowling coach whose phones were confiscated by the authorities? A very high raking SLC official explained that nonetheless the SLC would take appropriate action against any one who is found guilty of an offense. But, as for now, they have not taken any action even with regard to the bowling coach because the case is still pending and still he has not been found guilty of an offense.
Nevertheless, events presently set in motion are also confusing. For instance, the sports minister earnestly said he was very keen to form a Sri Lankan wing of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), and once that is done, he is hoping to beef it up with powers to take decisions. But, for his information, we say that SLC does possess an anti-corruption unit that operates under retired police officer Ayesh Weerakkody and, prior to that, it was initially formed by the previously elected SLC body five years ago, under retired Senior Superintendent of Police Lakshman de Silva.
There is a story about how the last SLC regime took note of the Lankan wing of the ICC anti-corruption unit. Here, we re-produce a portion of an interview that the Sunday Times did a few months ago: “the Sunday Times inquired from him (SSP Lakshaman de Silva) under what circumstances it occurred and what led to his sudden decision to leave the ICC challenge.
“De Silva explained, ‘My decision to leave the organisation did not have anything to do with the ICC, but some other misunderstandings I had with SLC itself. I had been the head of the SLC ACU for about five years, since the last T-20 World Cricket Championships held in 2012. However, last September-October, the changes began to occur. Suddenly, another officer was appointed and I was asked to hand over my duties to him. Likewise, I trained him and imparted some of my knowledge on the subject to him. Then, when my renewal came up, I found that my duties had changed, with additional duties such as man-in-charge of security and inquiries. Besides that, surprisingly, I was also appointed man-in-charge of anti-corruption, local.
“‘I was not happy about this sudden change of attitude. Thereafter, I put up a note and also met the SLC President, and pointed out it was not proper to divide the anti-corruption unit, because it was not anywhere in the ICC world of cricket and, as a result, there may be a conflict of interest. At the same time, the ICC also may not like this move, because anti-corruption is international and there is no local section to it. So, I requested that the status quo remains. So, when it did not change, I thought the best thing is to move on.’”
Strange indeed, a man who was marching, being given orders to march out or, to be precise, pushed off the cliff.
Meanwhile, what prevails at the SLC is chaotic. The sports minister appoints a competent authority to run SLC. Then the minister orders a special audit of the SLC to scrutiny the accounts of the past three years. This means the institution that governs cricket is under investigation and the head of that institution is the competent authority that the sports minister has instituted. Mind you, right now, there is a financial fraud that is being investigated at the SLC. I wonder if there is a conflict of interest. Is it like “Hora ge ammagen pena ahanawa?”.
The minister was supposed to appoint a management committee or, whatever it is, to look after the day-to-day affairs of the SLC, but nothing has happened. Then, what about the changes to the constitution, to enable the road map to cricket elections – there is much talk but no action.
What I really think is that Lankan cricket is in turmoil in its real meaning.
| Crime and punishment When asked if Sri Lanka has the wherewithal to punish any match-fixing offenders in Sri Lanka. SLC CEO Ashley de Silva explained that at the conclusion of the investigation if any individual or individuals are found guilty, primarily the ICC would recommend a period of punishment. Once that is done SLC would be bound to take action accordingly. However the SLC will reserve the right to impose any additional punishment if they deem necessary. For instance, after the former Australia cricket captain Steven Smith was handed a one-match suspension and fined 100 percent of his match fee by the ICC on the basis that he was party to a decision to attempt to alter the condition of the ball in order to gain an unfair advantage. In addition, batsman Cameron Bancroft was fined 75 percent of his match fee and handed three demerit points for breaching Level 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct. But, Smith, his deputy David Warner and Bancroft who were were involved with the incident were subjected for harsher punishments by Cricket Australia. | |