Court issues warrant against team manager in LPL match-fixing investigation

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday ordered the issuance of a warrant against a Pakistani national who served as the manager of the Dambulla Thunders cricket team, over allegations that he aided and abetted attempts to influence players to fix matches during the LPL 2024 tournament.

The order was issued after considering a request made by the Special Police Unit for the Prevention of Sports Offences, which informed court that the suspect had failed to appear before the unit to provide a statement regarding the ongoing investigation into attempted match-fixing.

Court was further informed that a notice had already been issued to the team’s owner, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin, Tamim Rahman, requiring his manager to appear before police to record a statement essential to the investigation. However, police told court that the manager had failed to comply with the notice and had not presented himself.

Making submissions before court, Chief Inspector Supul Vidanage, the Officer in Charge of the Special Police Investigations Unit for the Prevention of Sports Offences, stated that recording the manager’s evidence was vital as indictments are expected to be filed against Tamim Rahman. He added that manager Mujeen Al Rahman must provide a statement because discussions related to match-fixing had allegedly taken place at a leading hotel in Colombo with his knowledge and consent.

After considering the facts presented, the Magistrate ordered that the progress of investigations be reported to court on December 5.