[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Following a 2019 rule classifying match-fixing as a criminal offense, the first athlete to face charges under this law is former Sri Lankan spin bowler Sachithra Senanayake, who was apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities on Wednesday.
A police team investigating sports-related crimes detained Senanayake, aged 38, although formal charges have not been filed yet. The police assert that this detention is connected to an incident during the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Read more : Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj reports recent match fixing approach
Last month, Senanayake’s passport was seized by a court as an ongoing police investigation into the allegations continued. Senanayake is accused of influencing two LPL players in 2020 to manipulate games.
If found guilty, Senanayake could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to 100 million rupees ($309,000), or both.
This development is part of Sri Lanka’s efforts to combat match-fixing. The new regulation was introduced by the country’s former sports minister, Harin Fernando, who stated that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had identified Sri Lanka as one of the most corrupt cricket nations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
