Arjuna reiterates need for transparency with LPL

Cricket World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday wrote to Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa highlighting concerns ahead of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) later this month, reiterating the need for transparency in conducting the tournament.

Ranatunga in a letter suggested that there were six questions that the Minister should answer if he wants the tournament to be held in a transparent manner. “01. Is the tournament approved by the International Cricket Councial?; 02. Will officials from the ICC Anti -Curruption Unit monitor the tournament?; 03. If not, how will the integrity of the tournament be maintained?; 04. Whom have players signed contracts with? Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) or the owners of the teams?; 05. Will SLC be administering the tournament? 06. Has SLC determined as to who owns the teams? Has SLC monitored their activities?” he asked in the letter, also highlighting that an official of SLC, who was implicated in a report into allegations of matchfixing in domestic cricket, had been given a prominent role for the LPL tournament.

The Minister has previously said that he instructed SLC to carry about the tournament in a transparent manner to meet international standards. The LPL is scheduled to begin on November 26, with all matches being played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota.