Sri Lankan Sports Ministry has halted the probe into the allegations of match fixing during the Cricket World Cup 2011. The decision is taken a day after Kumar Sangakkara was questioned for around ten hours.
The investigators had probed Sangakkara, who led the team during the 2011 final against India at the Wankhede Stadium, and two other former captains – Mahela Jayawardene and Aravinda de Silva.
Former Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had alleged that some members of the team had conspired to lose the final to the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India.
According to a Sri Lankan news website adaderana.lk the probe has been halted for the lack of evidence. Roshan Abeysinghe of the adaderana.lk, referring to the police spokesman, had tweeted that the probe has been stopped.
Sports Ministry’s Special Investigations Unit halts investigations into 2011 WC final match-fixing allegations due to insufficient evidence – Police Spokesman- https://t.co/UE0xsYaVWx
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) July 3, 2020
The ex-sports minister, who also holds a ministerial post in the present Sri Lankan Government, had reportedly failed to provide substantial proof to corroborate his claims.
Members of a youth outfit in Sri Lanka, Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya had come in support of the players and staged a protest in front of the Sports Ministry. According to media reports, the protest was held against the continuous harassment of Sanagakkara and other cricketers over unconfirmed match-fixing allegations.