ICC urges Sri Lanka cricket to come out clean on corruption matters

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the world’s apex cricket board, has requested Sri Lanka’s scandalous sporting fraternity to put forth information about corruption before time runs out with the amnesty expiring or before their risk expulsion from the game. Lankan cricket has gone through a tumultuous time in international cricket as they have been shambolic on the cricket pitch.

Their cricket has also been accused of getting involved in corrupt practices for quite some time, which includes claims of match-fixing prior to a Test match against England last year. Alex Marshall, the council anti-corruption chief, mentioned that the other cases had to come to light and urged others before the amnesty expires on Thursday.

“In the final few days, I would request the cricket fraternity to come forward and share any other information concerning corrupt conduct or approaches in the strictest of confidence,” he said in a statement issued on Monday as per reports in the Times of India (TOI).

Controversial Sri Lanka

Those who refuse to share information may face even suspensions up to five years. Last year, sports minister Harin Fernando remarked that the ICC considers Sri Lanka as the most corrupt cricketing nation. The controversial Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) governing body is most likely to hold elections in February after nine months following president Thilanga Sumathipala’s term last May.

Back in November, Lankan fast bowler Dilhara Lokuhettige was meted out with a suspension after his corruption charges to a limited-overs league in 2017. Sumathipala has also been accused of violating ICC rules, surrounding links to gambling, but he denies the charges.

As far as action on the field is concerned, the Lankans lost the first Test against Australia at The Gabba by an innings and 40 runs. The second encounter is scheduled to be played from Friday, February 1 at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.