• Sachithra Senanayake has represented Sri Lanka in 74 international matches across formats.

  • Senanayake surrendered to the Special Investigation Unit of the Sports Ministry.

Former Sri Lanka spinner Sachithra Senanayake arrested under match-fixing charges
Sachithra Senanayake (Image Source: Twitter)

Former Sri Lankan spinner Sachithra Senanayake, who had once been a key figure in Sri Lanka’s cricketing world, has now found himself in big trouble. Senanayake was facing trial under match-fixing charges for quite some time and has now surrendered to the Special Investigation Unit of the Sports Ministry. The cricketing community was left stunned when news broke that Senanayake had been arrested, sending shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity.

Sachithra Senanayake’s cricketing journey

It is worth mentioning that Senanayake has donned the Sri Lankan jersey in a total of 74 international matches across various formats. He represented Sri Lanka in 73 white-ball matches and one Test, contributing significantly with 78 international wickets. His career spanned a spectrum of challenges and triumphs, ultimately earning him recognition as a prominent figure in the cricketing world. However, the recent controversy surrounding Senanayake has now tainted his formerly esteemed career.

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The veteran off-spinner has been accused of involvement in match-fixing activities during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2020, and it is alleged that he attempted to manipulate matches, maintaining contact with other cricketers via telephone from Dubai. The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court even imposed a travel ban on him in August 2023, signalling the gravity of the situation.

Denial and arrest

It’s important to note that Senanayake has vehemently denied these allegations in the past. In 2020, he issued a statement condemning what he referred to as “unsubstantiated and manifestly frivolous allegations” and even warned of taking legal action against those who propagated such claims. Nevertheless, despite his denials, the Attorney General’s Department found credible evidence provided by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) within the Sports Ministry, which prompted legal action under the Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act that ultimately led to his arrest.

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Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.