Sri Lankan Sports Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has given big information to the media here on Wednesday. The Sports Minister has said that three Sri Lankan cricketers are being investigated for match-fixing by the International Cricket Council. However, Sports Minister Alhaperuma has not informed whether the players have played for the country or are playing.
The Sports Minister has said, "We are sorry to see that sports discipline and its character have declined." However, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has made it clear that at present, ICC is not being investigated for match-fixing on any player playing for the country now. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has also released its official statement following the revelation by the Sports Minister and said that no current players are involved.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has said, "SLC strongly believes that what the Honorable Sports Minister has actually mentioned was about the investigation initiated by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit against three former Sri Lankan players."
Commenting on the drug charge on fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, Sports Minister Alhaperuma said that "It was sad and the country held high expectations on him". Madushanka was detained by the Sri Lankan police last week on charges of possessing heroin. Subsequently, his contract was suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). In a recent meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, veterans like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya had highlighted the need to revive cricket at the grassroots level.
