Match-fixing has always been regarded as one of the highest punishable offenses in the game of cricket and according to the latest reports, it seems that the ugly truth has been brought to the front once again. In a shocking revelation by the Qatar based media company, Al Jazeera, they have claimed that last year’s Test match between India and Sri Lanka at Galle and Australia-Sri Lanka Test at the same venue (2016) were fixed.
The investigations carried out by Al Jazeera revealed that offenders paid money to the ground staff on both occasions to tamper the pitch condition and guarantee outcomes. The reports also suggest that the efforts were also been made to fix Sri Lanka-England Galle Test scheduled to be played in November this year. The media house has revealed that the complete details of the scandal will be revealed in a documentary titled ‘Cricket’s Match-Fixers’ that Al Jazeera will air on Sunday at 10 GMT.
Reacting to the allegations, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that it has already launched an investigation into Al Jazeera’s findings. ICC’s media statement read: “The ICC is aware of an investigation into corruption in cricket by a news organization and as you would expect we will take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make very seriously. We have already launched an investigation working with anti-corruption colleagues from Member countries based on the limited information we have received. We have made repeated requests that all evidence and supporting materials relating to corruption in cricket is released immediately to enable us to undertake a full and comprehensive investigation.”
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According to a report in The Australian, the Al Jazeera investigations comprised of hidden cameras to film former Indian first-class player Robin Morris, Dubai-based Indian businessman Gaurav Rajkumar and the Galle stadium assistant manager, Tharanga Indika. The trio can be been seen discussing ways in which they could fix the game. Sri Lankan first-class player Tharindu Mendis was another alleged confederate who was recorded.
Talking to the channel’s undercover reporters, Morris admitted having bribed the Galle groundsman to doctor pitches. As quoted in the Al Jazeera website, Morris said, “We can make pitch do whatever we want.” Morris’ claims were backed by Galle stadium assistant manager Indika. He said, “If you want a pitch for spin bowling or pace bowling or batting, it can be done.”
Then, during a meeting at one of the hotels in Galle, while pointing towards Indika, Morris said, “What happens is he — we — can make a pitch to do whatever we want it to do. Because he’s the main curator. He is the assistant manager and curator of the Galle stadium.”
While the pitch used for Sri Lanka-Australia Test was tampered in favor of the bowlers, the one featuring India and Sri Lanka was prepared to favor batsman. Even the scorecards of both the matches serve the testimony of the words said by the fixers.
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In the Australia-Sri Lanka Test, spinners had the upper hand in the game as the visitors defeated by a margin of 229 runs in only two and half days. While Sri Lanka scored 281 and 237 in their two innings, Australia could only muster 106 and 183 in their outings.
Talking about this match, the Indika said, “In that five-day match, we prepared the wicket poorly without using a roller. In that way, we made a spinning wicket.”
The second match in question, the India-Sri Lanka Test of 2017, in which the Indian team first scored around 600 runs and they even batted superbly in the second innings and declared at 240/3. The hosts, though, failed to capitalize on the batting-friendly conditions and could only aggregate 291 and 245 from their two innings. India won the match by 304 runs.
Reacting on the outcome of this match, Indika said, “India was set for a batting wicket. We pressed the wicket thoroughly with a roller and then we put water on it to make it even harder.”
