Sri Lanka Police grills Aravinda de Silva over 2011 WC fixing allegation

The Sri Lankan police on Tuesday (June 30) said it has questioned former national selection committee chairman Aravinda de Silva over ex-Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that the national cricket team’s loss to India in the 2011 World Cup final was fixed by “certain parties”.

Aluthgamage has alleged that his country “sold” the game to India, a claim that was ridiculed by former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who demanded evidence from him.

Opener Upul Tharanga on Wednesday became the first player to be grilled in a session regarding the ongoing investigation.

The 35-year-old was questioned for two hours by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) examining the conduct of the final, which Sri Lanka lost to India.

“They asked a few questions in connection with the ongoing investigation. I gave my statement,” Tharanga told reporters without giving further details.

Sangakkara, the captain of Sri Lanka at that time, asked him to produce evidence for an anti-corruption probe.

“He needs to take his evidence to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly,” he tweeted.

Related news: Concerned boards investigate ‘lies’: Aravinda de Silva on 2011 WC fixing

Jayawardene, also a former captain who scored a hundred in that game, ridiculed the charge.

“Is the elections around the corner…like the circus has started…names and evidence?” he asked in a tweet.

De Silva, the then chairman of selectors, was quizzed for over six hours by the police.

Aluthgamage, on June 18, made the allegation but later backtracked, saying it was just his suspicion that he wanted to be investigated.

A special police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage’s statement last week.

De Silva, who was the man of the match in the 1996 World Cup final which Sri Lanka won, was summoned by the police on Tuesday to record his statement.

Police sources said that Upul Tharanga, the left-handed opener who played the 2011 final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, would be quizzed next.

The Lankan government has ordered an enquiry into the matter and a special Police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage’s statement on Wednesday.

He told the team that he was only suspicious of fixing. “I want my suspicion investigated,” Aluthgamage told reporters.

“I gave to the Police a copy of the complaint I lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 30 October 2011 regarding the said allegation as the Sports Minister,” he said.

Related news: 2011 WC final was sold, says Lanka’s former sports min; Sangakkara seeks evidence

Set a target of 275, India clinched the trophy thanks to the brilliance of Gautam Gambhir (97) and then skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91).

“Today I am telling you that we sold the 2011 world cup, I said this when I was the sports minister,” Aluthgamage, who was the sports minister at the time, had stated.

Aluthgamage said that in his opinion no players were involved in fixing the result, “but certain parties were.”

Both Aluthgamage and the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the invitees at the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Following his allegations, Aravinda de Silva, the former great who was the then chairman of selectors, has urged the BCCI to conduct its own investigation.

De Silva has said he is willing to travel to India to take part in such an investigation despite the current COVID-19 threat.

(With inputs from agencies)