Thilanga hits back at Arjuna

1 June 2018 10:18 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka's cricket chief on yesterday lambasted former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga for casting a corruption shadow over the country's 2011 World Cup defeat and in turn questioned Ranatunga's actions as a player.

Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala said Ranatunga, who captained the country to its 1996 World Cup victory, should have followed “the right protocol” instead of raising doubts.

Ranatunga, who is now Sri Lanka's petroleum minister, said Wednesday that he believed the 2011 final when India beat Sri Lanka was tainted though he did not give details.

Sumathipala said Ranatunga's own conduct when he failed to defend the World Cup in 1999 could also be questioned.

“He (Ranatunga) could not come to the final round in 1999. We were out from the first round. We lost badly in some matches... and people were also saying at that time 'don't know whether this man has thrown the match',” Sumathipala said.

Sumathipala and Ranatunga are political arch-rivals. Ranatunga's brother Nishantha is standing against Sumathipala for the board presidency and a court on Wednesday suspended the vote.
Corruption allegations are regularly part of their fight.

Local media had raised suspicions of Sri Lankans throwing the 2011 final, but there was no formal call for an investigation until Ranatunga made an outburst last year which he repeated on Wednesday.

Sumathipala said Ranatunga was suggesting that 2011 captain Kumar Sangakkara, who is affectionately known as Sanga, and his deputy Mahela Jayawardene had thrown the match.

“Why is he (Ranatunga) trying to drag them into this seven years after the match,” Sumathipala said. “We are implying that Sanga and Mahela have thrown the match.” “It's not fair. Sanga and Mahela have done so much for world cricket and they are respectable people in the eyes of the public.” Sri Lanka scored 274-6 and appeared in a commanding position when Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar was caught for 18. But India turned the game dramatically, thanks partly to poor fielding and bowling by Sri Lanka.

Ranatunga also said in his latest outburst that corruption in Sri Lankan cricket “goes right to the top”.

The country is again at the centre of allegations made in an Al-Jazeera documentary last weekend.

“I deny any involvement... Nobody in the executive committee or the management of this board is up to mischief or any malpractice,” Sumathipala said.

The board has suspended three employees implicated by the documentary, which alleged that a Sri Lankan player and groundsman were involved a pitch-tampering plot.

In 2016, the International Cricket Council imposed a three-year ban on a Sri Lankan official, Jayananda Warnaweera, for failing to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation. (AFP)

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Comments - 13

Observer Friday, 01 June 2018 10:53 AM

Nobody seems to be sincere and trustworthy.See what Arjuna achieved " The Tallest Christmas Tree in the World"? This is tax payers money

H.M. Janaka [former Cricket Coach] Friday, 01 June 2018 11:18 AM

Mr. Sumathipala you are a businessman always running behind money, but Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga is born with sports blood you cannot challenge him at any cost.

Wise Donkey Friday, 01 June 2018 01:48 PM

May we know who is bowling and who is batting?

ravin Friday, 01 June 2018 01:58 PM

As far as most of us know both are politicians. It is agreed upon by everyone, with out any reservations , Siri Lankan politicians are the most corrupted any one can imagine. So, both are in same boat.

Buddhist Friday, 01 June 2018 02:16 PM

Bookie Thilanga should never be involved in any position in Cricket.

Yehiya Friday, 01 June 2018 02:23 PM

Most trusted

Vipin B Friday, 01 June 2018 02:23 PM

While infighting is on the rise, SL cricket is taking a nose dive. Where are the people who can take the ownership of the problem and provide a solution? All what we got is emotional guys pointing fingers at one-another. Will this ever solve anything?

REEZ Friday, 01 June 2018 02:44 PM

This is Ananada Nalanda big match.

ghostlanka Friday, 01 June 2018 04:57 PM

Persons who has held office before should not be allowed to contest again and again. There should be period of at least 12-16 years ban on people re-contesting. Same should apply to all sports bodies. We need new blood players and new blood administrators. Sports in SRI LANKA should rejuvenate peoples confidence and every day life. We still Seeya and Aachi in the same old news media day and night. For HOW MANY DECADES do we need to endure this drama????!!!!!

billy Friday, 01 June 2018 07:00 PM

SL Cricket was destined to doom the day a bookie became the helmsman of SLC.

malij Friday, 01 June 2018 07:24 PM

This is the saga of the pearl of the Indian Ocean. People with underworld connections, murderers, bookies, thieves

Jude Friday, 01 June 2018 07:51 PM

Let me quote what former sports minister C B Ratnayake said " SLC is the most Currupted place in SL"

R.Anthony Friday, 01 June 2018 09:17 PM

Those living in glass houses should not throw Stones at others. 1999 two brothers greedily ruined Cricket , and one even fled the Nation to the land of uncle sam!!!!!!!!!!!!. Nation remembers , so Non of you are eligible to be anywhere near Cricket. Please save S.L.C.

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Thilanga hits back at Arjuna

Comments - 13

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