As the investigations into the alleged 2011 cricket WC match fixing scandal heat up, nine years later questioning has started with Arvind de Silva, the former Chief Selector of Sri Lankan Team and the final opener Upul Tharanga in 2011.
Ex Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Althagamage had demanded an investigation, calling the final match of the World Cup 2011 a fixed one. It was he who had handed over a list to the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. In this list of 9 pages, it was clearly mentioned why he suspected that the final was fixed. He said that I have given 24 reasons. Because of which we lost in the final. Althagamage was the Sri Lankan Sports Minister during the World Cup 2011.
As the probe goes on, Sri Lankan greats Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have dismissed the allegations of fixing outright. Sangakkara the then captain of the Sri Lankan team and Jayawardene were part of that team. Jayawardene had knocked a century in the match. But the Sri Lankan team faced a bitter defeat.
The Sri Lankan Government is investigating these allegations of fixing. It is being said that the Sri Lankan police had questioned Arvind de Silva, the chief selector of the Sri Lankan team, in 2011 on the allegations of fixing. After this, the final opener Upul Tharanga is now being quizzed. Meanwhile Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene may be questioned in the next appearance.
In the final of the World Cup 2011 played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Srilanka batting first scored 274 runs, losing 6 wickets. Mahela Jayawardene scored 103, Kumar Sangakkara 30 and Kulasekara 40 for Sri Lanka. At the same time, the start of the Indian team was very poor. Lasith Malinga was dismissed by Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag early.
Gautam Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni took over after Sachin and Sehwag were dismissed. Gambhir was dismissed at 97 but by then India had reached victory. Dhoni 91 and Yuvraj Singh were unbeaten on 21 runs. In this match, India won the world title by winning by 6 wickets and again became world beaters after 28 years.
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