Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has snubbed two umpires from upcoming fixtures without a proper reason. However, both the umpires were part of A recently concluded domestic match between Ragama CC and Saracens SC, that turned out a controversial affair, due to certain happenings.
The three day match of the premier Tournament 2017/18 was being played on 22, 23 and 24th December at Thurstan Cricket Ground, Colombo.
During the match, all three days were affected by bad lights and on field umpires took the right decision, according to the rules and regulations of ICC guidelines, to stop the game at the same time on all three days due to fading lights.
On the third and final day, Saracens were chasing a target of 256. However, when they were at 222/5 and going for an outright win, bad light stopped play once again. When there was no improvement in the conditions, finally umpires took the right decision to called the match off and it was ended In a draw.
According to sources, after the match, both the umpires Mohan de Silva and Maurice Dela Zilwa were told by SLC that they can’t do the umpiring, as an inquiry has been going on.
Again, on January 10, both the umpires were summoned by SLC Vice President International Cricket K. Mathivanan into his kabin and were told that they would be able to do the umpiring only in the second round of the ongoing Three day domestic tournament.
The other side of the story is Mathivanan stepped in to the later stages of the above match with the request of Chandra Rodrigo the manager of Saracens SC.
It is reported that Mathivanan directly involved on giving pressure to umpires in favour of Saracens.
Chandra Rodrigo, who also is the liason officer for Sri Lanka cricket team, is a close associate of Mathivanan, and always seen at His office room.
When Mathivanan talks against match fixing, cricketers say this incident also a type of match fixing.
Moreover, it has turned out as the first incident in Sri Lanka cricket history, when the umpires were penalised for stopping the match due to bad light.
