Thilanga Sumathipala was knocked out from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) on May 31st in the most embarrassing wsy. His two years at the helm completely paralyzed Sri Lanka Cricket in every aspect. There were match fixing, spot fixing allegations during his tenure at SLC, but he always remained tight-lipped!
Now, the same Sumathipala who could not say a single word about Ravin Wickramaratne saga in last two years, in order to make a comeback, has made one of the most serious allegations in Sri Lanka Cricket history by dragging two World Cup winning Legends into the mud of match fixing.
“Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva are the first match fixers of the Sri Lanka cricket history. They had fixed a match for 15, 000$ in India” Sumathipala told a local news channel on Sunday.
He said his (SLC) administration at that time was blamed for not investigating the complaint of alleged match-fixing by Ranatunga and de Silva.
Sumathipala was firing a salvo at Ranatunga in the duo’s long running public slanging match.
Ranatunga, a current government minister, had earlier accused Sumathipala’s family of having links with bookies. He said that SLC has gone down to a precipice because of corrupt management of the game under Sumathipala.
Ranatunga’s brother Nishantha had filed a court case to stay the May 30 elections of SLC when Sumathipala seemed ready to be re-elected. Nishantha was one of two rivals of Sumathipala for the position of SLC boss.
The Minister of Sports has appointed a Competent Authority to run the SLC while elections are being delayed.
Sumathipala, though, didn’t produce evidence! Instead, he just tried to get attention, and tried to protect himself by dragging others.
Cricket Age learns that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has already given clean chit to both the legends on this matter, after proper investigation!
The most surprising thing in Sumathipala latest attempt is that he dragged Aravinda De Silva’s name into the fixing as well. In Sri Lanka Cricket circuit, there is a perception that Sumathipala shares a good rapport with Aravinda. However, last month, Aravinda De Silva rejected SLC offer to join as consultant and insisted that there is a need for wholesale changes in the constitution.
That’s the reason, Sumathipala has dragged Aravinda De Silva’s name as well. Though, this is just a flop attempt to get attention. Incidently, after a long time, Sumathipala appeared yesterday, went to inspect certain things at Dambulla Stadium on the eve of the first ODI between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Today, South Africa won the match comfortablly!
