Corruption in Sri Lanka cricket goes beyond Al Jazeera claims, says Arjuna Ranatunga
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Arjuna Ranatunga on Wednesday said "corruption goes right to the top" in Sri Lanka and held the International Cricket Council responsible failing to check match-fixing. Sri Lankan players and umpires including Jayananda Warnaweera have been accused of match-fixing in the past.
"This is something that goes right to the top (in Sri Lanka). What they will catch are the small fish. As usual the biggest fish will get away," he said.
A part of the documentary footage revealed a Sri Lankan player and groundsman discussing means to tamper with the pitch and there were also allegations that there was spot-fixing during Tests between India and England, and India and Australia.
"I am so disappointed with the ICC anti-corruption unit," Ranatunga said, referring to the previous complaints against Sri Lanka Cricket, which is headed by politician and businessman Thilanga Sumathipala.
The skipper who won the World Cup for Sri Lanka in 1966, has accused Sumathipala of involvement in gambling in violation of ICC rules, however, to the disagreement of Sumithapala.
"If they can't see what is happening in Sri Lanka...they should not sit on the anti-corruption unit," Ranatunga told reporters.
"They are small fish," Ranatunga said referring to the recently dismissed groundsman of the Gallery stadium, Tharanga Indika, and district coach Tharindu Mendis. The 54-year-old strongly believes that the Sri Lankan implicated above could not have altered an entire Test match without support from higher officials or players. "They can't do it unless they have agreement with those right at the top," he added.
As investigations by the ICC and Sri Lankan police are underway, Ranatunga said, "There is a top guy involved. He should be held responsible. He should be suspended, not only the person who got (directly) involved."
The corruption allegations have caused a decline in the global audience and Ranatunga blames the ICC for the same.
"The ACU has been very poor. They have not used some of their powers and I think that is one reason why cricket has gone down so badly in the world in the last so many years." He added, "They(the ICC) need to take a big step and take a lot of hard decisions."
Ranatunga made note of his suspicions that the 2011 World Cup was tainted.
"The ICC did not investigate, Sri Lanka cricket did not investigate and we allowed things to continue," he said, adding that he was disappointed at Sri Lanka's six-wicket defeat in the Mumbai final.
Sri Lanka had scored 274-6 in 50 overs and were at an advantage as Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar got out for 18. However, they failed to capitalize on this as India emerged victorious against the poor fielding by Sri Lanka. Locals murmured that the match was thrown by Sri Lanka on purpose but there was no formal call for an investigation until Ranatunga raised concerns last year.
Ranatunga also said that Sri Lanka's humiliating 3-2 loss to bottom-ranked Zimbabwe in five one-day matches on home soil last year should also be investigated.
In 2016, the ICC imposed a three-year ban on Sri Lankan official Jayananda Warnaweera, who failed to co-operate with an anti-corruption investigation following allegations of involvement in match-fixing. Warnaweera is the highest-ranking official to be sanctioned amongst other players and umpires who were accused of match-fixing in the past.
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