Three political figures – a former Test cricket captain, a former sports minister and a former president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) – were in the middle of a dispute during a parliamentary session last Wednesday (14) while the budget of the Ministry of Sports was being heard.
The argument heated up when former Minister of Sports, Gamini Lokuge accused former Test skipper turned politician, Arjuna Ranatunga of match fixing charges which the latter vehemently denied. Former SLC chief Thilanga Sumathipala who joined in the verbal crossfire pointed out that Ranatunga, the then captain, and Aravinda de Silva were offered US $ 15,000 for fixing a One Day International (ODI) match against India in India during 1992.
“Fourteen international cricketers were investigated under these allegations. They included Arjuna (Ranatunga) and Aravinda (de Silva). When the said allegations were brought up, Thilanga Sumathipala was the president of the cricket board. Thilanga knows the whole inside picture of the case,” Minister Lokuge told the Sunday Times.
Sumathipala who headed the SLC thrice – in 1997, 2000 and 2004 – added that the charges against the Sri Lankan duo was unearthed during match fixing investigations leveled against former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje, who later pleaded guilty.
“When Minister Lokuge came up with the accusations, Ranatunga denied the issue. But according to the report we received from the International Cricket Council (ICC) then, Arjuna and Aravinda had been introduced by Indian batsman Manoj Prabakar to an agent to fix a match against India in Lucknow,” Sumathipala said.
Though media reports revealed that the supposed game was an ODI, Sumathipala later told the Sunday Times that the encounter had been a Test between the two Asian countries.
“It was investigated in India and we did our own investigations. Based on technical grounds no allegations were made against the two players”
However the relevant cricket governing bodies of other countries carried out separate investigations and most of the players, including Cronje, Indian cricketers Mohamed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Pakistan cricketer Saleem Malik were convicted of charges and were banned from the sport - for life.
Responding to Lokuge’s accusations Ranatunga said in the parliament that Interpol cleared him and de Silva of all charges after investigations. He further added that to make such allegations one must come out with documentary proof. Ranatunga revealed that he possesses a copy of the report which Sumathipala claimed to have received from the ICC and hopes to go public on it soon.
“The report that is said to have been received by our cricket board was based on a complaint made by an individual. I have a copy of the report and it says that ‘De Silva and Ranatunga were requested to under perform and De Silva was provided US $ 15,000’. But it said nothing about match fixing. There was a committee comprising Mr. S.L. Gunasekara, Kalinga Indatissa and many others who held an inquiry for about 30 minutes and released us of all charges,” said Ranatunga adding that the accusations were politically motivated. However opposing the statement made in parliament Ranatunga told the Sunday Times that he never mentioned that Interpol conducted an inquiry but added that the Anti Corruption Unit of the ICC was present when the local investigations were on.
“Arjuna said in parliament that he was questioned by Interpol and cleared. Interpol never dealt with the accused players. The ICC and the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) instructed us in Sri Lanka and we set up a committee to conduct our inquiry. But we could not proceed due to a technical argument. While other cricket boards convicted the accused players, we managed to clear our two players. But the allegations have been always there,” Sumathipala added.
According to history from 1990 to 1995 Sri Lanka has toured India on three occassions. In 1990 Sri Lanka played a one-off Test in Chandigarh where they lost by an innings and eight runs. The tour included three ODIs where Indian won the first two games by 19 runs and six wickets while Sri Lanka won the third match by seven wickets thus losing the series 2-1. In 1993 Sri Lanka took part in a quadrangular tournament which also featured India, South Africa and West Indies. India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the only game between the two teams and the hosts went on to clinch the C.A.B. Jubilee Tournament.
The encounter which Lokuge alleged Ranatunga of fixing, according Sumathipala took place when Sri Lanka toured India on their second bilateral tour during the decade in 1994. Sri Lanka suffered a three match whitewash in the Test series where India won all games by innings. India won the first Test by an innings and 119 runs in Lucknow, the second Test by an innings and 95 runs and the final Test by an innings and 17 runs. India also clinched the ODI series at 2-1, winning the first and second games respectively by eight wickets and seven wickets while Sri Lanka won the final encounter by four wickets. The scoreboard of the alleged Test match played at K.D. Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow, India from January 18 to 22 in 1994. |
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