Colombo:Sri Lanka's sports ministry on Friday ordered a full-scale investigation into former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage's allegation that the ICC World Cup 2011 final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed.
The sports minister Dullas Alahapperuma has ordered the investigation and instructed investigators to submit the progress of their investigations once in every two weeks, according to the ministry.Sports Secretary KDS Ruwanchandra had filed a complaint with the Special Investigation Unit to probe malpractices in sports.
On Sri Lankan news outlet News 1st, Aluthgamage, who was the sports minister of Sri Lanka during the 2011 World Cup, on Thursday alleged that Sri Lanka had 'fixed' the final game with India. He took full responsibility for his statement while adding he won't involve cricketers in the latest row.
Set a target of 275, India clinched the trophy after match-winning innings by Gautam Gambhir (97) and then skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91) at the Wankhede Stadium.The captain of Sri Lanka at that time, Kumar Sangakkara asked him to produce evidence for an anti-corruption probe.
"He needs to take his 'evidence' to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly," he tweeted.
Jayawardene, also a former captain who played a great innings of 88-ball 103 in that game, rubbished the charge. He took to Twitter to respond to the claims made by Aluthgamage and sarcastically asked whether the elections are around the corner."Is the elections around the corner. Looks like the circus has started Clown face names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC (sic)," Jayawardene tweeted. (UNI)