In one of the biggest ‘Match Fixing’ Controversy in recent times, A documentary by news organisation Al Jazeera has allegedly uncovered a match-fixing scandal involving the curator of the Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka, where Australia were thrashed inside three days in 2016.
The documentary, which airs on Sunday morning, shows Galle stadium assistant manager and curator Tharanga Indika claiming to be able to prepare a pitch to suit a desired outcome.
Al Jazeera’s investigation reveals the pitch for the Sri Lanka-India Test at Galle in 2017 was doctored to favour batsmen, while the match-fixers allegedly exposed in the documentary – Robin Morris and Tharindu Mendis – also claim the next match to be targeted is England’s Test at the same venue in November.
In this scenario, this is very important to know who are these two people : Tharanga Indika And Tharindu Mendis?
Tharanga Indika is the assistant manager and Curator of Galle Stadium. According to sources, he was the assistant curator of Jayantha Warnaweera for many years and his been considered as one of the closest associate of him.
In January 2016, ICC Suspended Warnaweera, Who played Tests and ODIs for Sri Lanka, for three years after he failed to cooperate with the Anti Corruption Unit in an investigation.
However, after ICC Suspended Warnaweera, Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) mysteriously appointed Indika as the Galle Curator, even after knowing the fact that he was Warnaweera’s close associate.
Tharindu Mendis, Meanwhile, is the elder brother of Sri Lanka player Jeevan Mendis. Currently, Tharindu has been associated with the SLC as Colombo District Coach.
The International Cricket Council has launched its own investigation into the findings of the documentary, saying in an official statement “will take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make very seriously.”
