Sri Lanka Cricket the world’s most-corrupt cricket board, reveals Sports Minister

With every passing day, Sri Lankan cricket is almost experiencing a new low. Their cricket has been plagued not only by poor performance on the field but also controversy off it. The year 2018 began on a promising note for them as they won the Test series in Bangladesh and the ODI tri-series. However, since then things only went downhill for them.

They could not make it to the final of the Nidahas Trophy at home after losing to Bangladesh. A 2-0 win over South Africa in the Test series at home gave them some respite but other results did not go their way. The Islanders were whitewashed by England at home in the three-match Test series, lost the ODI series at home against England and South Africa and exited the Asia Cup at the group stage

The forgettable year ended on a poor note with a heavy loss in the second Test against New Zealand as they lost yet another Test series. What has further compounded their miseries is the corruption of their officials. Throughout the last year, Sri Lankan cricket grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons and now the ICC has given a damning verdict on the nation.

Most corrupt cricket nation

Sri Lanka’s sports minister Harin Fernando, on Monday, said the country has been rated as the most corrupt cricket nation by the ICC. Fernando revealed that the ICC feels ‘Sri Lanka’s cricket administration is corrupt from top to bottom’. Sri Lankan Cricket is yet to hold the elections that were due to be held last May when the term of president Thilanga Sumathipala ended. Sumathipala has been accused of violating ICC rules by holding office despite alleged links to gambling. He denies the charges.

“Unfortunately Sri Lanka is being ranked as one of the worst or the top worst country for cricket corruption,” Fernando told reporters after returning from the meeting with ICC anti-corruption chief Alex Marshall. “They told me that the problem was not limited to bookies, but even the local game’s links with the underworld,” he said as quoted by Island Cricket.

Last month former Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilhara Lokuhettige was suspended for corruption during a limited overs league in 2017. He was the third Sri Lankan player charged for violating the anti-corruption code following cases against former captain and ex-chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya and former pacer Nuwan Zoysa. Legendary batsman Jayasuriya was charged for failing to cooperate with a match-fixing probe and concealing information. On the other hand, Zoysa was suspended over match-fixing accusations.

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