‘Looks like the circus has started’ – Mahela Jayawardena on former Sri Lanka Sports Minister’s claims of 2011 World Cup final being fixed

When MS Dhoni deposited Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011, the whole of India erupted. India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the World Cup after 28 years since Kapil Dev’s heist in 1983. Even as the game remains as a memorable one for the Indian fans, former Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has made some starting revelations.

He said that the iconic match in Mumbai was fixed and it was a game, which the Lankans could have won. Putting forth the comments with “responsibility”, he stated that he didn’t wish to expose further details about them, keeping in mind the reputation of his country. He didn’t provide any evidence either to back up his massive claims.

“The 2011 Cricket World Cup final was fixed. I stand by what I say. It took place when I was the Minister of Sports. I state it with responsibility. However, I do not wish to expose details for the sake of the country. The game was against India in 2011,  a game, which we could have won, was fixed,” Aluthgamage was quoted as saying in News 1st.

“I can come forward for a debate. The people are concerned about it. I would not involve the cricketers in this. But certain groups were definitely involved in fixing the game,” he added.

Mahela Jayawardena amused

For Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardena’s century went in vain and Muttiah Muralitharan’s final international game didn’t go well either. In the meantime, after Aluthgamage’s comments, Jayawardena dropped a witty tweet, asking for the names and evidences.

Jayawardena, who scored 103 off 88 balls in the final, took to Twitter and wrote, “Is the elections around the corner. Looks like the circus has started names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC.”

Here is Mahela’s tweet  

Is the elections around the corner 🤔Looks like the circus has started 🤡 names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC https://t.co/bA4FxdqXhu

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) June 18, 2020

In that match, Lanka put up 274 on the board courtesy Jayawardena’s century and some handy knocks from Tilakaratne  Dilshan, skipper Sangakkara and Kulasekara. While defending the target, Lasith Malinga got rid of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in quick succession. However, Gautam Gambhir’s 97 and MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 91 took India over the finishing line.