After former Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s shocking claims that the 2011 World Cup final was fixed, legendary cricketers from the country have been questioned by the police. This happened after the Sri Lankan government ordered a criminal probe into the matter.
On Thursday, former Sri Lanka captain and one of the greatest cricketers to have played for the country, Kumar Sangakkara was grilled for over five hours by the investigation team. However, the appalling treatment of veteran players by the authorities led to protests organised by the Youth Alliance of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), in front of the sports ministry.
Members of the Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya (@youthforsjb) are currently staging a protest outside the SLC against the harassment Cricketer Kumar Sangakkara and 2011 cricket team. #SriLanka #LKA #Matchfixing #ProtestSL via @kataclysmichaos pic.twitter.com/BfOr6tcsOK
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) July 2, 2020
As per local reports, Sangakkara spoke to the media after the interrogation and said the truth will soon be out.
SJB’s Sajith Premadasa showed his support to the former Sri Lanka skipper. He said that the harassment of 2011 World Cup heroes must be opposed most firmly.
Continuous harassment of @KumarSanga2 and our 2011 cricket heroes must be strongly opposed. Government behavior is deplorable.
— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 2, 2020
Aluthgamage had earlier claimed the country ‘sold’ the final to India.
“I tell you today that we [Sri Lanka team] sold the 2011 World Cup. I tell this with responsibility. I don’t want to divulge too much for the sake of the country… I say the match against India, the one we could have won; we betrayed,” Aluthgamage had said during an interview to a local channel.
In the 2011 World Cup final which was held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Sangakkara-led side posted 274/6 with Mahela Jayawardene scoring an unbeaten 103. In reply, India successfully chased down a 275-run target courtesy of the match-winning nineties from MS Dhoni (91 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (97).
The ‘Men in Blue’ won the contest with six wickets in hand and lifted the prestigious trophy after 28 years. Back in 1983, under the leadership of Kapil Dev, India had won their first-ever World Cup title.
