Sri Lanka skipper questioned in fixing probe

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board had yesterday suspended fast bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake as part of the investigations over attempts to fix some matches.

The coach is accused of bringing in a man with no top-level cricketing experience to help the squad at trainings.

Earlier this month the Sri Lankan sports ministry reported an alleged approach made to Kusal Perera and another national team player by a net bowler believed to be Wishvajith during West Indies’ tour of the country in October to the Financial Crimes Investigation Department.

Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews testified before police on Tuesday over a complaint that some national team players have been approached by a person with an offer to fix matches for money. SLC also barred Gayan Wishwajith from participating in any capacity in Sri Lankan cricket or entering any cricket premises in the future.

The two players refused the offer of some $70,000 and Sri Lanka beat the tourists by an innings and six runs after veteran left-arm spinner Herath took 10 wickets.

Betting is illegal in most of the cricket-mad Indian subcontinent, but backstreet bookmakers – many of whom have links to the underworld – still flourish. Tillakaratne never disclosed any names.

Perera had alerted officials about an approach made by bookies to him and Herath to under-perform before the Sri Lanka-West Indies Test at Galle.

The all-rounder also clarified that the investigation was regarding the bookie approach, which his team-mates duly reported. He has sent his retirement letter to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), conveying his decision to pull the curtains down on his short Test career.