Former Sri Lankan captain and the country's Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said that India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could provide technical expertise in probing the widespread allegations of corruption in cricket.
This comes after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was dealt a blow when its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Piyal Nandana was arrested for alleged financial fraud on Monday.
Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said that Nandana was arrested following a complaint lodged by the SLC with the Inspector General of Police.
Speaking on corruption in cricket, Ranatunga – having just returned from New Delhi – said,
“India has specialised knowledge on the issue, having taken action against many corrupt activities in match fixing. The Prime Minister (Sri Lankan) and I made a special request to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He pledged assistance.”Arjuna Ranatunga
He further added: "We don't have the expertise or the laws to deal with this problem in a proper manner. India promised to help us in drafting legislation too.”
The former Sri Lankan captain said that corrupt local administration was responsible for the current lowly standing of Sri Lanka in international cricket.
"There is no point in blaming the players for the poor showings," Ranatunga said.
Financial Fraud
The arrest of the Sri Lanka Cricket CFO is related to an alleged financial fraud, which was unearthed last September.
An alleged attempt to transfer (to an offshore account) USD 5.5 million – connected to the broadcasting rights of the current England tour of Sri Lanka – was reported to the police's crime investigation department.
The SLC had cited the CFO Nandana as the prime suspect, who had claimed that his e-mail account had been hacked. He was sent on compulsory leave.
The money was one of the three tranches coming from Sony Picture Networks for broadcast rights of the England tour.
How Sri Lanka Cricket Has Been Affected
Allegations of corruption and fixing have hit the country’s cricket hard after a documentary aired in May, alleging massive global corruption in cricket.
After it was aired, Galle groundsman Tharanga Indika and former first-class cricketer Tharindu Mendis were found allegedly speculating about fixing the pitch to ensure a result in under four days in a Test match against England.
Both men have been suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket pending an ICC investigation. A third man, provincial coach Jeevantha Kulatunga, was also suspended.
Sanath Jayasuriya, a member of the 1996 World Cup winning squad, is under investigation by the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit, along with several others. Jayasuriya has been charged for not co-operating with a match-fixing probe and concealing information.
(With inputs from PTI)
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