Colombo: Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been asked to record his statement in front of a special investigating unit of the Sports Ministry probing allegations that the country’s 2011 World Cup Final loss to India was fixed. Local media reported that the probe panel grilled former cricketer Aravinda de Silva for six-long hours on Wednesday (July 1).
Sri Lanka’s sports ministry last month ordered an investigation into former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that the national cricket team’s loss to India in the 2011 World Cup final was fixed by “certain parties”.
Sangakkara was captain of the Sri Lankan team at that time. According to the local newspaper ‘Daily Mirror’, which quoted SSP WAJH Fonseka, a Special Investigation Division of the Ministry of Sports has asked Sangakkara to record his statement. Sangakkara has been asked to appear before the unit on Thursday at 9 am, according to the report.
The special unit also recorded statements from Sri Lanka batting legend Aravinda De Silva, who was chairman of the selection committee at that time, and the opening batsman of that match Upul Tharanga.