Sri Lanka Cricket cleared of corruption, board claims

[MenInG]

Colombo - Sri Lanka Cricket said on Tuesday the sport's global governing body had found no evidence of wrongdoing following allegations of match-fixing and other forms of corruption.

The board said the International Cricket Council had failed to uncover evidence of graft during an investigation into explosive accusations levelled by former Sri Lankan players.

SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva said ICC anti-corruption investigators visited the island in September and conducted a wide-ranging inquiry.

"They do not put out statements after an inquiry, but if there is anything adverse, they would inform us. To date, they have not told us of anything (against Sri Lankan players or officials)," de Silva told reporters.

There was no immediate comment from the ICC.

The council's announcement in September that it had begun an inquiry followed corruption allegations by former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and ex-player and national selector Pramodya Wickremasinghe.

SLC said its executive committee had directed players and staff to cooperate with the ICC's probe.

Ranatunga, who captained the islanders during their 1996 World Cup win, has alleged that insider meddling cost Sri Lanka a repeat tournament crown during the 2011 final against India.

Ranatunga, now a government minister, alleged that unusual changes were made to the team before the final which Sri Lanka lost by six wickets.

Similar allegations of "unnatural match patterns" and queries over player selection were made by Wickremasinghe.

The ICC announced the probe a day after SLC said that 40 contracted national team players had asked for an immediate inquiry into "shocking" allegations by Wickremasinghe.

Sri Lanka cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala said it was "very unfair" for such allegations to be made without any evidence, adding the ICC had found no proof of foul play.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/sri-lanka-cricket-cleared-of-corruption-board-claims-20180109

 

[hadi123]

That's good. Last thing they need is a scandal.

 

[giri26]

ICC boss Dave Richardson ‘confident’ of corruption-free World Cup

The head of cricket’s world body said Wednesday he is confident of a corruption-free 2019 World Cup as the sport works overtime to disrupt criminals who attempt to fix matches.

David Richardson, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, also called on national governments to do more to tackle match fixing, which has affected lucrative Twenty20 leagues as well as international matches.

The ICC anti-corruption unit “is trying to be much more proactive in first of all disrupting these criminals who are travelling the world trying to corrupt the game,” said Richardson.

“Working hand in hand with the law enforcement agencies will help us do that. So (we are) very confident that we will keep the World Cup corruption free,” Richardson told reporters at a promotional event in New Delhi.

He added: “We are persuading governments to introduce legislation that can make attempts to fix cricket matches a criminal offence and put these people behind bars.”

Richardson said there are currently investigations ongoing into corruption and match fixing.

Sri Lanka bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa was the latest to face suspension in October over accusations of match fixing.

Former Sri Lankan opener and ex-selector Sanath Jayasuriya was also charged for failing to cooperate with a match-fixing probe and concealing information in October.

The 2019 World Cup is due to take place in England and Wales from May to July.

The 59-year-old Richardson, who is a former South Africa wicketkeeper, also reiterated ICC’s interest in taking cricket to the Olympics.

The vast majority of ICC members are keen to have the sport at the quadrennial event, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has its reservations.

“We have got an ambition to have cricket in the Olympics in 2028. That’s easier said than done. We need to convince the International Olympic Committee to have cricket,” said Richardson.

“103 out of 104 members are strongly behind that decision to get cricket in the Olympics. There are some issues that BCCI has with the Indian Olympic Association but I am very confident that those issues can be resolved.”

The only time cricket has ever featured at the Olympics was in 1900, with just two men’s teams competing. Great Britain won gold with hosts France taking silver.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...e-world-cup/story-8F3W1rx1QDIofs0gDfZqTM.html

 

[Abdullah719]

COPE probe reveals Sri Lanka Cricket owns four foreign bank accounts

Colombo (News 1st) – During COPE proceedings yesterday (September 4), Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mohan de Silva accepted that SLC had maintained foreign-based bank accounts, and memorandum of understandings was signed in this regard. News 1st continuously reported foreign accounts that were maintained in favour of Sri Lanka Cricket.

The Banamex bank account, the BBVA compass account, and several other accounts opened for dollar transactions are some of the few. News 1st also revealed that the address linked to the Banamex bank account was identical to that of Sri Lanka Cricket.

The forensic audit revealed attempts to transfer funds worth US$ 436,541, received as the second instalment for broadcasting rights from the South African Tour, to another account.

On July 12th 2018, an email was sent out by the Head of Finance of SLC, to Sandeep Patel of Sony, instructing that the funds be transferred to a bank account at Wells Fargo.

The forensic audit revealed, the relevant SLC officials had failed to provide the number of the respective bank account for the audit. Accordingly, it can be said, that Sri Lanka cricket currently maintains four foreign bank accounts. Ultimately, officials of Sri Lanka Cricket were compelled to accept during COPE proceedings, that the institution maintained foreign accounts.

If the relevant officials of Sri Lanka, had committed such actions with good intentions, they would not have to face such a situation.

https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/09/05/slc-currently-maintains-4-foreign-bank-accounts-cope/

 

[Abdullah719]

‘Keep cricket clean’: Kumar Sangakkara pleads at NCC felicitation

Sri Lanka cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara was critical in underlining the responsibility of domestic cricket clubs’ to keep the sport clean from corruption, as the country’s reputation hangs in the balance with the blend of occurrences in the recent past. Former Sri Lanka skipper Sangakkara, was felicitated by his domestic side, the Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC), on his recent feat of being appointed President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

Sangakkara, 41, will be the first non-British President of the MCC, considered the home of cricket, and his one-year term begins in 23 days. The former southpaw’s tenure includes two Tests at Lord’s – against West Indies and Pakistan – and the launch of The Hundred competition. But Sangakkara highlighted NCC, as his home of cricket, and stated that the Sri Lankan club could continue to be in the forefront in nurturing the top structure, as it has been doing for many years.

“I’m not going to exaggerate this, but there are 43 investigations in the world today and 23 are in Sri Lanka, to do with corruption. Sri Lanka needs to make a stand, we as a club, as a cricket side, as an administration, to ensure to keep this sport as clean as we possibly can. NCC can start that with educating the players, making sure that everyone has a trustworthy system to depend on a support structure that allows them to play this game without a fear, with the best spirit of the game, with excellent skill and never ever be part of a system that compromise as who they are and the value of the game that we all love,” speaking in front of a large crowd, Sangakkara said.

During his playing career, Sangakkara scored 12,400 Test runs, and piled up over 14,000 ODI runs, the second all time best in world cricket. He also has nearly 1,400 Twenty20 International runs for Sri Lanka, besides his wicketkeeping skills, which made him the best wicketkeeper batsman in recent history.

Sangakkara will succeed Anthony Wreford as MCC’s first non-British President, and will lead the guardians of the laws of the game and upholders of the spirit of cricket, for the next 12 months. Even Sangakkara was surprised at the fact that he was picked for the position.

“From the long period ever since I played my first Test match to the Cowdrey Lecture, to the MCC’s connection to the Foundation of Goodness, where I’m a Trustee, and then of course the honorary life membership of MCC, of having my portrait being hung on the wall alongside Mahela (Jayawardene) and Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan), could be the little incidents that probably paved the way for my nomination as the President. I feel very lucky,” he said.

Explaining further on his upcoming role Sangakkara stated that Anthony Wreford, the current President of MCC, has done an amazing amount of work, and that he expects to carry forward the good work. But Sangakkara will be committed to not making comments during his tenure as MCC President.

“I’ll have to really decide how I’m going to be of service. That’s a role I’m really looking forward to, and it’s been really heartening to see the support in Sri Lanka and beyond as a result. Let’s see how it all goes, probably in an year’s time I will explain it better and definitely something special”.

The former Trinity and NCC cricketer, has played around the world including the IPL, CPL, Big Bash, PSL, BBL and the county circuit, before calling it a day at the age of 37. During his career of 18 years in all circuits and 16 years as a national cricketer, Sri Lanka was recognised as one of the sides with a clean and genuine record, in terms of playing and reputation. But the recent years have been tough to digest to cricketers, as well as administrators, in a country where cricket is almost a religion.

“With regard to corruption in cricket, unfortunately Sri Lanka has had quite a few incidents in the recent past. That’s not a great place to be, and no one will like any player, past or present, to be caught up in anything of that sort. But unfortunately we live and learn. And another instance where NCC and its culture can contribute, is to ensure that these lessons, that we’ve learnt over the recent past, are actually put into practice, where there is awareness and education and everyone takes the responsibility, I’m sure that this game that we all love will stay clean from the club level and beyond. It’s absolutely essential that it happens, or else this game will die,” showing gratitude to NCC’s contribution in making him a world figure in cricket, Sangakkara said.

A large crowd, including parents of Sangakkara, his wife Yehali, family members, friends and cricketing buddies of Sri Lanka’s most sought after batsman, gathered at the event, where a fleet of former national cricket stars were also present. Former NCC and Sri Lanka top order batsman and renowned cricket commentator Russell Arnold, did the honours as the Master of Ceremonies. The event was organised by the NCC Office Bearers.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190908/sports/keep-cricket-clean-367532.html