In an embarrassing turn of events, Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has sent It’s Assistant Secretary Ravin Wickramaratne to attend ICC meeting in Kolkata, even after he has been declared ‘guilty’ by Sports Ministry, Cricket Age reliably learns.
The all-important ICC Board Meeting will be held on April 25 and the discussions are likely to revolve around wide-ranging review into players behavior in the wake of the ball tempering incident by Australian players in South Africa.
However, SLC decision to send Ravin raises many questions over board’s zero tolerance policy against corruption.
A controversial Administrator, Ravin’s name became notorious after a domestic match came under the scanner last year.
It has been accused that A Premier League match between Panadura SC and Kalutara PCC played in January 2017, was Fixed. The current Assistant Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Ravin was the President of Panadura SC and Messrs. Aruna De Silva and Anura Weerasinghe, both Kalutara PCC officials, were also committee members of SLC. All three are strong supporters of SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala.
More embarrassingly, No action has been taken against these key officials till date, although the domestic inquiry held by SLC imposed fines on the clubs and banned certain players. After much delay and total inaction on the part of SLC, the Minister of Sports appointed a Commission of Inquiry headed by Mr. Palitha Kumarasinghe PC to inquire and report on this ugly episode. The Commission of Inquiry found the Officials culpable of complicity in match fixing including Ravin, in the said match, but up to date there has not been any action taken against these corrupt officials.
If such shameless acts of match fixing is tolerated in domestic matches, it is mind boggling to think of what would take place in international games.
After being declared guilty by Sports ministry, even though Ravin has been completely sidelined by Sumathipala, it has learnt that he still hold a strong command within SLC. Thus, instead of fulfilling his responsibility as the Assistant Secretary of the board, he always prefers (and manage) to go for overseas tours and gets hefty allowances.
“When there is a new secretary Roshen Biyanwila, who is conducting his first AGM and election, it’s strange that the asstistant secretary travelling overseas rather than helping him. It shows that how much he is manipulating everything by claims that he is a close associate of President” A Top SLC Official told Cricket Age on the term of animosity.
Scorecard of the match between Panadura and Kalutara :
Panadura CC vs Kalutara PCC
1ST Day- Kalutara PCC 362 /8
2ND Day –Kalutara PCC 390 all out (103 oves )
2nd Day- Panadura CC 180/2
3rd Day Panadura CC 243 + 180 = 423 . Panadura lead 33 Runs
3rd Day Kalutara 2nd Innings 197 all out 25.5 overs
3rd Day Panadura need 197 to win the match
3rd Day with in 13.4 overs Panadura scored 197 and won the game.
