2011 WC Final fixing claim:

Officials purchased car companies after losing match

• “I wrote to the ICC in 2012 regarding this matter, yet they failed to respond”
• “Some Cricket officials have purchased car companies, started new businesses after match loss”
• “An Indian newspaper knew about the team change before us, but how?”
•  
• “The Team changed in the last moment without prior consultation”

By Piyumi Fonseka

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he had already complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the alleged match fixing incident in 2011 and demanded an investigation to be carried out to find out ‘how certain cricket officials’ allegedly purchased car companies and started new businesses within a year of losing the match.   

 He reiterated that he did not refer to any players, but officials in the cricket industry.  

Enumerating his allegation over the 2011 Cricket World Cup fixing, Aluthgamage said he had written to the ICC in 2012 regarding the alleged fixing of matches and three other important issues, he had noticed in Sri Lankan Cricket during his tenure.   

He said this was the third time him was speaking on this particular matter and there was nothing new or different to what he had said earlier.   

He claimed that until the cricket match was played with New Zealand, the Sri Lankan team was playing well and that the final with India was a match the Sri Lankan team were tipped to win.   

“The team who played the final match was not the team we had selected, finalised and sent off. At the last moment, without the consultation of either me, or the then minister of Sports or officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket Control Board, four new players had been included to the team. We saw this only when we watched the match. How could four players get replaced without due approvals and consultations? 

Sanga and Mahela demand evidence

• Is the elections around the corner? Looks like the circus has started. Names and evidence?-Mahela
• Former minister needs to take his “evidence” to the ICC -Sanga

By Lahiru Pothmulla and Piyumi Fonseka

In response to former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed, former Sri Lankan Cricketers Mahela Jayawardana and Kumar Sangakkara demanded the names and evidence involved, be revealed.  

In an interview with a private television channel, Aluthgamage alleged that he can responsibly claim that the match was sold to India by certain parties. He said he wished not to involve names of any players.  

However, responding to the claims, Mahela Jayawardana tweeted, “Is the elections around the corner? Looks like the circus has started. Names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC.”  

Kumar Sangakkara who was the captain of the Sri Lankan Cricket team during the 2011 WC final, tweeted that the former minister needs to take his “evidence” to the ICC and the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit so the claims could be investigated thoroughly.  

When contacted by the Daily Mirror, Sangakkara further said it is baffling why Aluthgamage who was the sports minister at that time, waited so long to open up about something this serious in such a casual manner.   
Former Sri Lanka cricketer and former Sri Lankan cricket team Batting Coach Tilan Samaraweera also tweeted and said, “What a shaky statement! Why couldn’t the person who was on the highest seat of sports then, .... Get this investigated by the ICC, then?  

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror spoke to Sri Lanka Cricket Board Chairman Shammi Silva regarding the allegation. He said the SLC has never received a complaint or any report over the 2011 WC Final match.  

• Is the elections around the corner? Looks like the circus has started. Names and evidence?