Panadura Sports Club likely to appeal against SLC ban

Panadura Sports Club is likely to appeal against the ban imposed by the SLC for playing against the spirit of the game. The inquiry panel found the club guilty of manipulating the result of a game and fined the club with Rs 5,00,000 besides banning their players and club officials for a  year.

Their first-class game against Kalutara Physical and Culture Club came under scanner after an extraordinary final day where more than 600 runs were scored in 60 overs of play. Panadura won the game and earned promotion to Tier A of Premier League Cricket. The SLC made the result of the game null and void after an extended inquiry of 9 months. The club will appear in Tier B next season. The Secretary of the club wasn’t impressed with the ruling and threatened to take legal action.

“This club was established in 1922 and I can proudly say that we have no black marks whatsoever,” Nuwan Samaranayake, Secretary of the club, told journalists. “This is a conspiracy against us. The image of the club and that of our players has been tarnished. The players have not been given a fair hearing and we will make an appeal to SLC. If we don’t get a fair hearing, we have left with no alternative but to take legal action,” he added.

President of club rules out any foul play

The President of the Club was equally disappointed and pointed out that the match referee filed in two match reports. “If there was any foul play, the Match Referee should have stated so in his report at the end of the play. He didn’t do that. Then later, the Match Referee filed another report. So there are two reports by the Match Referee,” Jayantha Silva, President of the club, said.

Chamara Silva, the lone cricketer to have played for Sri Lanka, was suspended for two years from all cricketing activities. The right-hander didn’t take the field due to an illness which raises questions about his suspension.

On the final day, by scoring enough runs and picking enough wickets, the opposite team Kalutara PCC avoided relegation and will feature in the first-class tournament next season.