ICC Anti-Corruption Unit launches investigation in Sri Lanka over corruption allegation

The International Council for Cricket (ICC) in a statement on Saturday, confirmed that it has opened up an investigation in Sri Lanka into the corruption allegations. There are over 40 top crickets, who have petitioned Sri Lankan Cricket to launch a probe into the allegations in the sport in the country.

ICC’s statement comes within 48 hours of the submission of the petition. SLC had received a letter that had the signatures of top Sri Lankan cricketers that included Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga urging the board to probe the ‘baseless claims’ that was made by the former cricketer Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who also is one amongst the selectors of the team.

However, the board did not confirm the investigation for the same; it merely conveyed that the players’ integrity is being questioned. The ICC has now publicly established that the Anti-Corruption Unit officers have recently visited the Island nation in relation to an investigation.

ICC’s official release: 

“The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit works to uphold integrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigations where there are reasonable grounds to do so,” said the ICC in an official release it put out on its website,

“There is currently an ACU investigation underway in Sri Lanka. Naturally, as part of this, we are talking to a number of people.” added the ICC official.

Former Sri Lankan cricketer, Wickramasinghe had alleged that there had been a foul play when Zimbabwe met the Island nation in a 5-match ODI series. The fourth ODI of the same series went against Sri Lanka with the African nation winning the game in D/L Method. While former Sri Lankan cricketers claimed that Wickramasinghe’s arguments are baseless, the man himself has claimed that he was only making a note of the allegation that was around the country.

According to the Indian Express, Wickramasinghe has been cast as the source of these allegations. SLC said the players had expressed “profound shock and displeasure at a former national cricketer and selector making such serious allegations,” and that SLC should “initiate an immediate inquiry by summoning Wickramasinghe in fairness to their good names that have been slandered by such diabolic allegations.”