BCCSL warns Sri Lankan players about match fixing

With the current match fixing scandal raging in every corner of the cricketing world it is somewhat surprising that Sri Lanka appears almost entirely preoccupied with events overseas. Whilst the press in the UK, South Africa, Pakistan and India have been searching high and low for new evidence of betting related misdemeanors, the Sri Lankan media has been content to write about the escapades of Hansie Cronje, Chris Lewis and Inderjit Bindra.

For most Sri Lankan's, the question of whether any Sri Lankan players have been involved in match fixing has, perhaps hastily, been dismissed. Very hastily when one considers the known fact that foreign bookmakers maintained a visible presence throughout the last Australian tour. It may well be that the bookmakers were content with the little snippets of information that they gleaned in a perfectly legal manner. One suspects however that the real reason for them being here was actually far more sinister.

For their part, the Interim Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) remains convinced that no Sri Lankan cricketers have been involved in match fixing during their short tenure. Nevertheless they called a meeting with the entire national squad last Tuesday to discuss the issue.

During the meeting the players were requested to be extremely vigilant when approached by people unknown to them, especially when on the telephone. The Board requested that the players don't give interviews over the telephone. There is already an unusually strict code of conduct that prevents the players from speaking to the media without the prior consent of the BCCSL. When the players renew their contracts in the next few days, they are also expected to receive clarification in the form of a letter.

The BCCSL will review the issue of match fixing, from a Sri Lankan point of view, after the International Cricket Councils (ICC) meeting at Lords on 2nd and 3rd May. Interim Committee member and Chairman of the Selectors, Siddath Wettimuny, will represent Sri Lanka at the meeting.

This review is clearly necessary and should be conducted urgently. It may well be the case that match fixing has largely avoided these tropical shores, but that is no excuse for complacency on the issue. The lesson of this saga so far is that the identity of those involved, belied our expectations. Over the coming months culprits will be unearthed in the most unlikely quarters. If Sri Lanka buries its head in the sand then there may be some rude surprises ahead.