Domestic match fixing brought to Sports Minister’s attention

The infamous match fixing scandal involving two First Class cricket clubs would be brought to the attention of Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa’s after his predecessors repeatedly turned a blind eye and threw the findings of a probe under the carpet. 

In January 2017, Panadura Sports Club and Kalutara Physical and Culture Club fixed a First Class match in such a way that the former gained promotion to the elite division while the latter continued to play First Class cricket without being relegated.

When the idea was discussed prior to the corrupt third day’s play, Panadura SC captain and former Test cricketer Chamara Silva opposed the idea.  However, his resistance was bulldozed and officials had it their way. Silva, however, reported sick for the final day’s play. Another international player Charitha Buddika Fernando withdrew himself from the final day’s activities after blatant foul play.

The innocence of the sport was killed with the firm blessings of officials of the club.  Office bearers of both clubs were leading officials of Sri Lanka Cricket with Ravin Wickramaratne being the most prominent of them all.

Following a public outcry, the Sports Ministry was forced to launch an inquiry and fingers have been pointed at several leading cricket officials. However, three different Sports Ministers – Dayasiri Jayasekara, Faizer Mustapaha and Harin Fernando failed to take action further proving that there was little good governance in the Yahapalana government.

Wickramaratne is the Vice-President of Sri Lanka Cricket and is alleged to be the mastermind of foul play in the said First Class match. A former President of Panadura SC, an affidavit submitted by Chamara Silva implicates Wickramaratne into corruption. However, no action has been taken against him and with time he has risen in ranks at SLC.  Wickramaratne is Sri Lanka’s alternate Director for the ICC and observers said him representing the country at board level will further damage SLC’s reputation. The ICC has so far opened up a record number of corruption cases against Sri Lankan players and officials.

While everyone in cricket circles seem to agree that the said game was fixed, the sad part is no individual has been punished. Both clubs got away with a slap on the wrist paying mere fines for their involvement in foul play.

In his affidavit, Chamara Silva had claimed that the plot to fix the First Class match was put forward by club officials at tea on the second day. He adds informing the discussion to fix the game to club stalwart Wickramaratne. However, Wickramaratne had encouraged Silva to go ahead with match-fixing, promising to take the full responsibility if a problem arose. 

The said game ended with Panadura recording a three-wicket win having chased down a target of 165 in 13.4 overs scoring over 12 runs an over under bizarre circumstances. The win enabled Panadura to gain promotion to Tier ‘A’ of First Class cricket. Kalutara too benefited. Placed bottom of Tier ‘B’, they were running the risk of getting relegated to Sara Trophy. But having scored 225 runs in 22.5 overs at a run rate of over eight runs per over in their second innings, they had avoided relegation.