No conclusion yet on 2011 World Cup fixing inquiry
The police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) probing former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation of Sri Lanka fixing the 2011 World Cup final have yet to record a statement from then Secretary to the Ministry of Sports Anura Jayawickrema to shed light into the contentious issue.
The Attorney General’s Department on September 9, directed the police unit to record a statement from the former secretary and the minister himself, after the Ministry of Sports confirmed to the AG’s Department that they do not have any records of team approval or a letter sent by the minister to the ICC.
This was after the AG requested the Ministry of Sports to check all their references to see whether they have got copies of team approval given to the original 15-man squad and to the subsequent injury replacements.
“We were not able to record these statements so far given the current pandemic situation in the country,” said SIU head SSP Jagath Fonseka.
“After the Lanka Premier League is over, we will get these statements recorded”.
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, a ruling party politician, cast the wild charge with apparent conviction regarding the World Cup final played in Mumbai between Sri Lanka and India. He said Sri Lanka “sold” the match, basing his claim on a “suspicion” he had on the formation of the playing XI as well as several other turn of events before and during the match. He said he had proof but investigators here and abroad found nothing substantial to merit an investigation.
The local investigators ‘dropped’ the case over lack of evidence and the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) found no evidence which would merit an investigation.
However, the state prosecutors are yet to give their opinion on whether to conclude or continue the case as they await statements from the former secretary and the minister himself.
Their work has been hampered by lack of evidence. Even though the cricketers accused of allegedly fixing the match have submitted proof of team approvals to the prosecutors, they are trying to establish the authenticity of those documents as no records are available at the ministry.
The selectors in consultation with the team management made two changes to the side bringing in Chaminda Vaas and spinner Suraj Randiv as possible replacements to Angelo Mathews and ace spinner Muttiah Muralidaran.
Though no team or individual can represent Sri Lanka without the Ministry approval, the minister now claimed he did not approve the injury replacement. But there was documentary evidence to show that he was not being truthful when he claimed that neither the Sports Ministry, which he headed at the time nor Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was aware of last-minute additions to the World Cup squad.
The AG’s Department, however, is looking to establish whether the Minister did indeed make a written complaint to the ICC; or whether he manufactured evidence to support his claims in order to avoid a possible jail term for making false allegations under Section 13 of the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act. The letter the Minister said he sent, seen by the Sunday Times, does not even contain a reference number. The players and the selectors have asked the prosecutors to hold Aluthgamage accountable for making false and baseless allegations to substantiate his claims.
According to the section 13 of the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act No. 19 of 2019, making false allegations is an offence and warrant a fine and a jail term if proved in a court of law.
Following the June 18 claims, cricketers Aravinda de Silva (Selection committee chairman), Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara were questioned at length by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Mahela Jayawardene was also asked to be present at the SIU but was told to keep off at the last minute before police announced they had stopped the investigation due to insufficient evidence against the players.