Sri Lanka becomes first South Asian country to criminalize match-fixing

[Boiz Played Well]

Sentences of up to ten years and fines are part of new legislation passed by the Sri Lankan parliament to battle "match-fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting" in sport.

In doing so it becomes the first South Asian country to officially criminalize this form of corruption. Offences under this Act will be considered non-bailable and extend to anyone involved in match-fixing or corruption including retired players, curators and others involved with the sport.

Source: http://www.adaderana.lk/news/58895/draft-bill-on-prevention-of-offences-relating-to-sports-approved

Will criminalizing these corrupt practices be effective in battling match-fixing and spot-fixing in cricket? Should India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan follow suit?

 

[StreetSmart]

great step by Srilanka

 

[Mean&Green]

That is ridiculous you are not causing anyone any harm way too harsh of punishment

 

[Someone]

That is ridiculous you are not causing anyone any harm way too harsh of punishment

And this kind of mentality is the reason why Pakistan cricket always producing highest number of fixers..

 

[Boiz Played Well]

That is ridiculous you are not causing anyone any harm way too harsh of punishment

It's more of a big headline than a sentence that will ever be given. Criminalizing behaviours often drive them underground instead of being a deterrent. And criminalizing behaviours which are already done in secrecy since gambling is illegal in much of South Asia, just makes the perpetrators hide it better.

I like the intention of the parliament. I don't think this will be effective though.

 

[Hyperion66]

That is ridiculous you are not causing anyone any harm way too harsh of punishment

Selling your country for a few bucks is not a petty crime. Kudos to SL.

 

[Hyperion66]

It's more of a big headline than a sentence that will ever be given. Criminalizing behaviours often drive them underground instead of being a deterrent. And criminalizing behaviours which are already done in secrecy since gambling is illegal in much of South Asia, just makes the perpetrators hide it better.

I like the intention of the parliament. I don't think this will be effective though.

Of course why would punishing people for committing crime be effective? instead of criminalizing match fixing they should low key encourage players to do it at a very young age so that even if they are caught red handed by foreign law enforcement agencies or ICC they can be incorporated back into the team after serving time. Win win for everyone, right?

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Of course why would punishing people for committing crime be effective? instead of criminalizing match fixing they should low key encourage players to do it at a very young age so that even if they are caught red handed by foreign law enforcement agencies or ICC they can be incorporated back into the team after serving time. Win win for everyone, right?

LOL. I was just putting out what has already happened over and over when governments go about banning stuff. Most of the time it's driven underground but thrives even more because they know they're under the scanner.

I'm not an expert on anti-corruption by any means but other ways to battle this could be more effective. Like a well-paid curator who is financially screened before hiring and regularly during his term would be less susceptible to corruption than a poor curator with a family to feed who knows he MIGHT go to jail or he definitely will make good money if he isn't caught.

 

[Mean&Green]

Selling your country for a few bucks is not a petty crime. Kudos to SL.

90% of the world of sport is now fixed and gambling is involved big time in it so I don’t really see selling the country here when the organizers of the games are fixing matches though as fans we can deny it For the sake of our joy and entertainment but that is the bitter truth. If they started giving out sentences like that more players will be behind bars than in the ground

 

[Savak]

Pakistan should follow suit. Will deter fixing for sure. In fact the govt or the PCB should have the right to seize a convicted fixers assets

 

[azimiqbal]

Amazing initiative by Sri Lanka , every other country should follow suit! Match fixing and spot fixing. I think icc should band out life bans from all cricket if an individual is caught spot / match fixing

 

[Hawkeye]

General public cannot be expected to understand sports has nothing to do with this.

PPers will also sing praises.

But it's a ridiculous step. You're not harming anyone. It's a (bad) practice in sport that should strictly be limited to and punished by the sporting bodies.

Govt has nothing to do with policing it.

The punishment should be harsh, but handed by the SPORTS BODIES, limited to the sports itself, like life bans etc.

It does not and should not be taken as anything else.

 

[ads101]

Well done to Sri Lanka. Where as we on the other hand are reluctant to even hand out life bans and even plee to try and get our own fixers bans reduced.

We're just so lax on fixing compared to other countries. In most countries fixers don't ever play for the country again. It's the reason why we keep getting fixers again and again, we're just too lenient.

 

[ads101]

General public cannot be expected to understand sports has nothing to do with this.

PPers will also sing praises.

But it's a ridiculous step. You're not harming anyone. It's a (bad) practice in sport that should strictly be limited to and punished by the sporting bodies.

Govt has nothing to do with policing it.

The punishment should be harsh, but handed by the SPORTS BODIES, limited to the sports itself, like life bans etc.

It does not and should not be taken as anything else.

I disagree. Fixing is basically stealing. Just because you are stealing from betting companies, doesn't make it not stealing. And in a way they are stealing from fans to who pay to watch a match that isn't pre-determined. You also stealing from those who put in their money fairly betting on odds, who lose that money as a result of fixed meaning they lost money instead of winning. The criminal charge of stealing should be handled by the government. The other issues of length of sports ban etc can be handled by the cricket board/ICC.

I think the reason there was a push for the trio to be jailed was because they knew once they got back to Pakistan nothing would be done. Maybe it could have been agreed to jail them in Pakistan rather than England if we'd criminalised fixing.

 

[The Viper]

Three Sri Lanka Cricketers Under ICC investigation For Match-fixing: SL Sports Minister

Sri Lanka Sports Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is carrying out investigations into three cricketers from the nation on charges of match-fixing or corruption. Sri Lanka Cricket did not name the targets of the probe by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit but insisted no current national players were involved.

The reports said Alahapperuma had hinted current players were being investigated by the ICC for match-fixing.

"What the honourable minister actually mentioned was about an investigation launched by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit against three former Sri Lanka players and not the current national players," the board said in a statement.

The ICC said it would not comment on any active investigation.

Sri Lanka introduced tough penalties for match-fixing and tightened sports betting restrictions in November in a bid to stamp out graft that has tainted the country's cricket team.

Allegations of corruption included claims of match-fixing ahead of a 2018 Test against England.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket insisted no current players were involved in the ICC investigation.

Commenting on the drug charge faced by fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, Alahapperuma said "it was sad and the country had placed high hopes on him".

Madushanka was detained by Sri Lankan police last week on charge of possessing heroin. Subsequently, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) suspended his contract.

Alahapperuma said the government would soon focus on the dropping standards of cricket at the school level. It has come to light that schools are no longer producing quality players.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...inister-931949/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

[YorkerKing]

Former Sri Lanka Cricketer Facing Match-fixing Charges Slapped Travel BanFormer Sri Lanka cricketer Sachithra Senanayake, who has been charged with fixing matches, was on Monday banned from travelling overseas by a local court in Colombo
Former Sri Lanka international cricketer Sachithra Senanayake, who has been charged with fixing matches, was on Monday banned from travelling overseas by a local court in Colombo. The 38-year-old Senanayake, who played a solitary Test, 49 ODIs and 24 T20 Internationals between 2012 and 2016, has been accused of trying to fix games of 2020 Lanka Premier League. He allegedly enticed two players to fix games over telephone. The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court ordered the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to impose a travel ban on Senanayake which will be effective for a three-month period.
The court order was obtained by the Attorney General's Department.

The court was told that the Attorney General's Department had been instructed by the Special Investigation Unit of the Sports Ministry to frame criminal charges against the former off-spinner.