Corruption Probe: ICC ACU to conduct investigations in Lanka
Officers of the ICC's Anti Corruption Unit have arrived in Colombo and will be investigating corruption allegations against Sri Lankan officials associated with Galle stadium. Earlier, in a documentary titled 'Cricket's Match Fixers', Sri Lankan ground officials were accused of doctoring the pitch conditions in Galle to influence the outcome of the Tests. As per reports, an ICC spokesperson confirmed the ACU reaching Colombo.
ICC ACU set to meet alleged Lankan officials
The anti-corruption officials are set to meet the people featured in the documentary. In the secretly filmed operation by Al Jazeera, Galle stadium assistant manager, Tharanga Indika and a Lankan first-class cricketer Tharindu Mendis were found to be a part of match-fixing. SLC has already suspended Indika and two other individuals, who were employed as coach and a ground staff.
Lanka has been under ICC's radar
Prior to the Al Jazeera documentary, the ICC had initiated an inquiry on corruption in cricket in Lanka. The home team's first ever Test defeat to Bangladesh and an ODI series loss against Zimbabwe coincided with the inquiry.
What were the Galle ground staff up to?
The documentary reveals that the match-fixers had altered pitches for two Tests earlier at Galle. The upcoming match against England would have been the third. The two matches were against Australia in 2016 and India in 2017. Australia were bowled out for 106 and 183 runs and lost the Test. India won the Galle Test after scoring an emphatic 600 runs.
ICC is trying its best to curb corruption
The ICC has been a huge cause of concern for the ICC and maintaining the integrity of the game is of utmost priority for the world cricket body. In recent years, Pakistani trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were found guilty of match fixing during the tour of England. They were handed lengthy bans for their involvement.
