Cricket Chief Selector in hot waters
The Matale High Court issued an arrest warrant this week for Upul Tharanga, the current Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, after he failed to appear in court as a witness in an ongoing match-fixing investigation. Tharanga has left the country to participate in a cricket tournament in the United States without notifying the court, prompting Matale High Court judge Ravindra Premaratne to order his detention upon his return.
Judge Premaratne specified that Tharanga must be produced before the court immediately following his arrest. He was expected to testify and undergo cross-examination during a hearing scheduled for Tuesday; however, he is currently engaged in a franchise league in the USA.
During the court proceedings, Tharanga’s lawyer, Jaliya Gunaratne, explained his client’s absence due to international commitments. In response, Senior State Counsel Udara Karunarate criticised Tharanga for acting irresponsibly and urged the judge to enforce the arrest warrant.
The investigation into potential match-fixing was initiated after Tharanga himself reported an alleged attempt by Akash Patel, the owner of the Kandy Samp team, to manipulate outcomes during the Legends Cricket Tournament. This case has raised significant concerns within the cricket community regarding the integrity of the sport in Sri Lanka.