SLC asks ICC ACU to investigate Sri Lanka-Pakistan Test after fixing allegations

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has invited the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to investigate fixing allegations over the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test match in July earlier this year.

Pakistan won the aforementioned match by four wickets after chasing 342 in the fourth innings.

"In the last Pakistan series, our team scored 400-odd [Sri Lanka had set a target of 342, a ground record if achieved], and still lost in the last innings. From the person who rolls the pitch, everyone has been given money. The board has become a gambling den,” Nalin Bandara said during a parliamentary session.

However, Bandara failed to provide evidence to support his allegation.

The Sri Lanka cricket board has invited Alex Marshall, the general manager of the ICC anti-corruption unit, to investigate opposition leader Nalin Bandara’s allegations.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the ACU “did not comment on whether that match was being viewed as suspicious”.

“The ACU does not usually make any comments on its investigations,” it added.

Meanwhile, SLC in a press release, did not mention Bandara, but said his comments "have caused immense reputational damage to Sri Lanka Cricket and its stakeholders".

PCB’s response on allegations

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said Wednesday that it could not comment on Sri Lanka's decision to call sport's world governing body officials for probing allegations stemming from the Green Shirts' tour to the Island nation earlier this year.

Based on the newly-discovered allegations, the PCB official denied any contact with the SL Board or the ICC.

“No one — neither the ICC nor has the Sri Lanka Board — approached us on the recent allegations made by one of the opposition leaders regarding the 1-1 drawn Test series between the two countries. So unless and until we are being approached, we are not in a position to say anything,” a PCB official said while talking to The News.