Former Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s 2011 World Cup final match fixing allegations have stunned Indian Cricket fraternity and media alike. As the 1.2 billion Indians considers 2011 World Cup win as one of the greatest and most memorable achievement in Cricket, Mahindananda’s allegations have angered everyone!
All the leading news papers, Friday, have published the news on their front page, while questioning the authenticity of Mahindananda’s claims.
All leading news channels also aired the news in the Prime time slot, with majority of the media groups have termed Mahindananda’ claims is a clear insult to Mahendra Singh Dhoni led team India’s historical feat at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium 9 years ago.
In an explosive revelation, Aluthgamage on Wednesday (June 17) said that 2011 World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed.
The Former Minister, in an interview with Sri Lanka news channel News 1st, said he makes the claim with absolute responsibility and does not wish to expose further details for the sake of the country.
“Today, I am saying with responsibility that Sri Lanka sold the 2011 final to India. I said this during my days as Sports Minister as well. There are evidence also to prove this, but for the sake of the country, I will not expose those evidence” Aluthgamage said.
The captain of Sri Lanka at that time, Sangakkara, asked him to produce evidence for an anti-corruption probe.
“He needs to take his ‘evidence’ to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly,” he tweeted.
“Baffling that he waited so long to open up about something this serious in such a casual manner.
If memory serves well, he was the then Sports Minister too” Sangakkara then posted on Facebook.
Jayawardene, also a former captain who scored a hundred in that game, ridiculed the charge.
“Is the elections around the corner. Like the circus has started. names and evidence?” he asked in a tweet.
Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 274-6 off 50 overs and appeared in a commanding position when Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar was caught for 18. India turned the game dramatically thanks partly to poor fielding and bowling by Sri Lanka. Sangakkara resigned soon after the match.
Both Aluthgamage and the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the invitees at the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
