Lanka appoint legal luminaire to probe match-fixing

The Board appointed Desmond Fernando, a member of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct Committee to probe the charges and report back within 30 days, BCCSL President Thilanga Sumathipala said.

Fernanado has been given a free hand to conduct his inquiry and would be free to travel to India or any other country in connection with the probe.He has been asked to investigate whether any prima facie evidence existed for any irregularities committed by the two during the last 10 years, Sumathipala said.

Both the players have strongly denied the charges. While Ranatunga said he had never been approached by a bookie, De Silva said he had immediately informed the management when he was once asked by a bookie to underplay in a match.

Sumathipala said the Board has decided to appoint a civil inquiry in order to gather more evidence to the charges levelled by CBI.

“CBI is a well respected organisation of the Government of India. We want to make sure that two of our well respected cricketers were really involved in the match-fixing. It is painful. We can not believe it,” he said.

Fernando’s report would be submitted to Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriall for action, he said.