Namal lashes out against unjust harassment of cricketers

• ‘Unfair to drag them into this situation’

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

Former government parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa yesterday called for an end to the harassment against cricketers saying he had been against such unjust questioning even when Angelo Mathews was questioned by the FCID back in 2016 over allegations of match fixing.   

“I disagreed over the unjust questioning of cricketers even back in 2016. The questioning of our players by the FCID started during the Yahapalanaya government when Angelo Matthews was questioned in 2016. I disagreed with it then and disagree with it now,” Mr. Rajapaksa told the Daily Mirror.  

He further said with the ICC and anti-corruption unit already probing the allegations, this was also an opportunity for players to clear their names.

  
“But it is unfair to drag them into this situation,” he added.  Former captain Kumar Sangakkara appeared before the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) on sports-related corruption, attached to the Sports Ministry, to make a statement over match fixing allegations levelled by former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.  

Former Selection Committee Chairman Aravinda de Silva and cricketer Upul Tharanga had given statements earlier over the allegations that the 2011 world cup was sold to India.

• ICC and anti-corruption unit already probing the allegations