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West Indies team's players celebrate their victory during the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup's final match against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 7, 2012. (AFP)
Sri Lanka plans to stamp out match-fixing in cricket by introducing anti-corruption laws, the country's sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has said.
He made these remarks during a debate in the island's legislature on the challenges faces international cricket, according to dailymirror.lk.
Referring to suspicions in some quarters that the World Twenty20 final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies held in Colombo had been fixed, he said that investigations had indicated that it was baseless.
Sri Lanka went into the final as overwhelming favourites but imploded while chasing a target of 138.
Aluthgamage admitted it was reasonable for anyone to have such doubts as the Sri Lanka team had lost four World Cup finals since 2007.
“We investigated this. There is no truth in it. It is reasonable that the people entertained such doubts. Sri Lanka played well up to the final and then lost it. There is betting involving in cricket. Some people bet that the third ball of the 44th over will be a no ball. Others bet that the umpire will remove his cap or sunglasses during a particular over. Much to other peoples’ amazement, they win their bets,” he said.
He pointed out that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had identified match fixing as a menace that plagued the cricketing world, and England, India, Australia and South Africa had enacted anti-corruption laws to deal with the problem.
“Since 2000, 20 players have been banned for life from playing in ICC organised cricket matches after being found guilty of match fixing. The ICC has set up an anti-corruption and security unit. We made use of their services during the Sri Lanka Premier League tournament,” he added.
Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne also alleged that match-fixing was rife since 1992 though he later retracted the statement.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are also to bring in psychologists to help its cricketers after choking in the final yet again.
The minister said the services of world renowned psychologists would be obtained in future for the stress management of Sri Lankan cricketers.
“Ours is a team with plenty of talent. There was no reason for us to be beaten at the finals. We need to improve the psychological condition of players. They need stress management,” he said.
He was echoing the sentiments of chief selector Ashantha de Mel who also identified the need to psychologist to help Sri Lankan cricketers following their constant failures on the big occasion.
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