Allegation of match-fixing:

Hashan fails to reveal names of players

Prince GUNASEKARA

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillekeratne yesterday failed to reveal the names of players whom he alleged were involved in match-fixing at the Western Provincial Council meeting held yesterday.

Though he had alleged earlier that he would reveal the names of the players who were involved in match-fixing Hashan put off his move and said that due to legal advice he would not name the players involved in it.

Hashan Tillekeratne briefing mediamen after the meeting of the Western Provincial Council yesterday

Further he added that he would produce information in due course, to the International Cricket Council and Western Provincial Council.

The former Sri Lankan player’s allegations seemed controversial and will be debated among the public and the critics. Meanwhile Kumar Sangakkara who quit the captaincy showed his disapproval of Hashan’s accusation and said that such allegations would do irreparable damage to the game.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage requested the Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya to initiate a CID inquiry into the allegations made, as deliberate accusations without evidence could harm Sri Lanka’s reputation.

Tillekeratne defending himself against the accusation of seeking political gains from the situation said that his aim was to protect cricket which was his passion and to safeguard the players who are a national treasure.

Hashan Tillekeratne who made his test debut in 1989, played 83 tests and 200 ODIs. He captained the test team against Pakistan in 1999 and quit in 2004. He represented the national team during the time in which he claims match-fixing had taken place.

The text of his speech at the Council meeting was handed to the media in

which Tillekeratne says that he was confident of his allegations as there were many players in the international cricket arena who were under surveillance during the post 1992 period.

He further states that newly introduced Twenty20 format has made cricket more complex and even the word ‘sport fixing’ was formed due to the aforementioned reason.

Without giving any details of his allegations Tillekeratne criticized the Cricket Board of its failures in his speech, and suggested of forming a proper administration for cricket before investigations into allegations could be conducted.

Tillekeratne was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday evening where a statement was recorded from him.