SLC snubs Indian fixing probe

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had evaded assisting the Mudgal Probe panel investigating Indian Cricket corruption scandal, sources here told daily Mirror.

The investigators have contacted several Sri Lankans including SLC’s two top officials Jayantha Dharmadasa and Nishantha Ranatunga to seek their assistance on crucial information regarding the involvement of Indian cricket stars in the betting scandal that has shaken the cricket world, but required support had not been forthcoming, sources added.

The probe panel was specifically interested in the much publicized incident of a leading Indian batsman spending a night with a woman who has suspected bookie links in a Dambulla Hotel room when the Indian team was in Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup in 2010.    

B.B.Mishra, the Head of the Mudgal Panel’s Investigation team had reportedly contacted Ranatunga first as he is one remaining official from the SLC regime at the time. He was also the SLC Secretary in 2010.

The source said that following Ranatunga’s failure to co-operate with the investigation, the panel had approached SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa for assistance.

Ranatunga admitted that an investigating officer from India contacted him and he asked for an identification from the said official in writing.
“Someone called me from India and asked me for some information about an incident involving Indian players. But without a verification of his identity, we could not provide any details. So, I asked him to send his request in writing with his details” said Ranatunga.

“Once we received his introduction, we forwarded it to the BCCI for verification, and received instructions from BCCI to co-operate fully with the investigation. Then we wrote back to the Investigators stating that we are committed to give our full assistance to the probe” Ranatunga described.
“However, we haven’t heard of them since” Ranatunga added.  

Sources said that Dharmadasa had initially agreed to help out with the investigation, but had refused later.

Dharmadasa told “” that he cannot comment on the issue or supply any information as he had not been in SLC office at the time the alleged incident had taken place.

Sources said that the probe panel had also contacted former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala to seek his assistance to get a copy of the report on the incident, but were not successful.

Major General Lawrence Fernando who was SLC’s Security Manager at the time had allegedly submitted a report on the incident to SLC, but told this correspondent that he cannot comment on the issue unless he gets clearance from Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry.

What Defence Ministry has got to do with the incident however is not clear.

Mishra however had written later to Dharmadasa requesting his assistance to obtain information.  

“During the investigation, I have been given to understand by a responsible source that there was a violation of ICC Code of Conduct when the Indian Team visited Sri Lanka in the year 2010 in connection with the Asia Cup matches. The violation occured (May be on 17th / 18th June) as a girl reportedly visited the room of an Indian player and remained in the room till 4.00 AM. It was informed to us that the matter was reported by Major General (retd) Fernando who was looking after the security. We have been given to understand that there are CCTV footage also. It was also alleged that the girl in question was in touch with some bookies” Mishra had wrote in his letter to SLC President.

He had added: My questions are:

1) Whether the incident reported above did take place? Is it within the knowledge of the esteemed Sri Lankan Board ?

2) Whether the Sri Lankan authorities reported this matter to ICC ACSU ?

3) Whether the Sri Lankan authorities reported the matter to Indian team manager or to the BCCI ? Is there any record of it having been brought to the notice of BCCI or any other authority ?

4) Is a copy still available which can be provided to us?

5) Whether the report mentioned about any bookie and whether any evidence was adduced to support the conclusion that the lady in question was in touch with any bookie/ bookies?

I request for an early reponse in the matter with due confidentiality” (Bipin Dani, our correspondent in India)