Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has once again hit back at ex-Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who had accused the national team for ‘selling’ the 2011 World Cup final against 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 in an interview with Sirasa TV.
After the statement, both Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara had registered their reactions on micro-blogging website Twitter. Sanga had asked to take ‘evidence’ to the ICC and the Anti-corruption and Security Unit. While Jayawardene took the election jibe and said: “Looks like the circus has started.”
Is the elections around the corner 🤔Looks like the circus has started 🤡 names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC https://t.co/bA4FxdqXhu
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) June 18, 2020
However, two days after Aluthgamage’s claims, the former Sports Minister came up with a clarification that ‘he did not refer to any player’ in his serious allegation.
Jayawardene yet again responded to Aluthgamage’s statement saying how one could fix a match and not be a part of it.
“When someone accuses that we sold the 2011 WC naturally it’s a big deal because we don’t know how one could fix a match and not be part of the playing 11? Hopefully, we will get enlightened after nine years,” tweeted Jayawardene.
When some one accuses that we sold the 2011 WC naturaly it’s a big deal cus we don’t know how one could fix a match and not be part of the playing 11? Hopefully we will get enlightened after 9 years…😃👍 https://t.co/cmBtle5dNE
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) June 19, 2020
The captivating 2011 final witnessed India lifting the World Cup after 28 years. In the game, Sri Lanka posted 274 for six with Mahela Jayawardene scoring an unbeaten 103. In reply, India chased down a 275-run target after match-winning nineties from MS Dhoni (91 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (97).
