By The Dark Shadows Over Sri Lankan Cricket: Match-Fixing Scandals from Senanayake to Jayawickrama
Sri Lanka, has long been a beacon of passion and talent in the cricketing world. From the glory days of the 1996 World Cup triumph to producing legends like Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lankan cricket has often been a source of national pride. However, beneath this veneer of success lies a darker undercurrent that has increasingly come to light: the scourge of match-fixing and corruption that has plagued the sport in the country.
The tale of corruption in Sri Lankan cricket is not new, but recent developments have brought it back into sharp focus. The latest name to surface in this murky world is that of Praveen Jayawickrama, a promising young left-arm spinner who had been making a name for himself on the international stage. Jayawickrama’s involvement in a corruption scandal has once again highlighted the ongoing struggle to maintain the integrity of the sport in Sri Lanka.
The Fall of a Rising Star: Praveen Jayawickrama
In August 2024, the International Cricket Council (ICC) charged Praveen Jayawickrama with breaching the Anti-Corruption Code. According to the ICC, Jayawickrama was found to have deleted messages related to an approach for conducting corrupt practices. This was a serious accusation, suggesting that the young cricketer might have been approached by corrupt individuals seeking to manipulate the outcome of matches, and that he attempted to cover up this approach by destroying evidence.
Jayawickrama, who had been one of Sri Lanka’s promising talents, was given 14 days from August 6, 2024, to respond to the charges. The cricketing world, especially in Sri Lanka, watched with bated breath as this latest scandal unfolded. If found guilty, Jayawickrama could face severe penalties, including a lengthy ban that could derail his career.
This incident involving Jayawickrama is not an isolated case but rather the latest in a series of corruption scandals that have marred Sri Lankan cricket in recent years. To fully understand the gravity of this situation, it is important to look back at some of the most notable match-fixing cases that have rocked Sri Lankan cricket.
The Scandal of Sachithra Senanayake
Before the shock of Jayawickrama’s alleged involvement could settle, the cricketing fraternity was still reeling from the controversy surrounding Sachithra Senanayake. In September 2023, Senanayake, a former Sri Lankan off-spinner, was arrested by Sri Lankan authorities on charges related to match-fixing.
Senanayake, who had once been a key player for Sri Lanka, particularly in the shorter formats of the game, was accused of attempting to fix matches during the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL). The investigation revealed that he had allegedly contacted two players participating in the tournament, trying to influence them to underperform in specific ways. The charges included conspiracy to fix matches and attempting to induce players to engage in corrupt activities.
Senanayake’s arrest and subsequent legal troubles were a significant blow to Sri Lankan cricket. While he was eventually granted bail, the damage to his reputation was irreversible. This scandal not only tarnished Senanayake’s career but also cast a long shadow over the LPL, a tournament that was seen as a platform for nurturing domestic talent and providing exposure to international standards.
A History of Corruption: The Cases of Zoysa, Lokuhettige, and Jayasuriya
The cases of Praveen Jayawickrama and Sachithra Senanayake are just the latest chapters in a much longer story of corruption within Sri Lankan cricket. In the past decade, several other notable figures in Sri Lankan cricket have been embroiled in similar scandals.
In 2018, Nuwan Zoysa, a former Sri Lankan fast bowler, was charged by the ICC for multiple offenses under the Anti-Corruption Code. Zoysa was accused of being part of a conspiracy to fix matches and of attempting to influence players to engage in corrupt activities. In 2021, after a thorough investigation, Zoysa was found guilty and was handed a six-year ban from all cricket-related activities. Zoysa’s involvement in such activities was a sobering reminder of how deep-rooted corruption had become in Sri Lankan cricket.
Around the same time, Dilhara Lokuhettige, another former Sri Lankan cricketer, was also caught up in a match-fixing scandal. Lokuhettige was charged by the ICC for attempting to fix matches during a T10 league in the UAE. The charges against him were serious, and in 2021, he was banned for eight years. Lokuhettige’s case underscored the fact that corruption was not limited to international cricket but had also infiltrated the growing number of domestic and franchise-based tournaments around the world.
Perhaps the most shocking case in recent years involved Sanath Jayasuriya, one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated cricketers and a former captain. In 2018, Jayasuriya was charged by the ICC not for match-fixing per se, but for failing to cooperate with an investigation and for obstructing the process. He was subsequently banned for two years from all cricket-related activities. Jayasuriya’s involvement in a corruption-related scandal was a bitter pill for Sri Lankan cricket fans to swallow, as he had been a national hero for years.
The Impact on Sri Lankan Cricket
The repeated involvement of Sri Lankan cricketers in match-fixing scandals has had a profound impact on the sport in the country. These incidents have not only tarnished the reputation of individual players but have also damaged the credibility of Sri Lankan cricket as a whole. The ICC and the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) have had to take serious actions, including imposing bans and increasing oversight, to combat this menace.
One of the most significant repercussions of these scandals has been the loss of trust among fans. Cricket is more than just a sport in Sri Lanka; it is a passion that unites the nation. The involvement of beloved players in corrupt activities has left fans disillusioned and questioning the integrity of the game.
Moreover, these scandals have also affected the younger generation of cricketers. The constant shadow of corruption has made it more challenging for young players to focus on the game, knowing that the sport they love is tainted by such activities. The presence of corrupt elements within the system can also discourage genuine talent from emerging, as the focus shifts from performance to other, less savory aspects of the game.
Fighting Back: The Role of the ICC and SLC
In response to these recurring scandals, both the ICC and the SLC have intensified their efforts to combat corruption. The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has been more proactive in recent years, conducting thorough investigations and imposing strict penalties on those found guilty. The SLC has also taken steps to educate players about the dangers of corruption and to ensure that they are aware of the consequences of engaging in such activities.
However, the battle is far from over. As the case of Praveen Jayawickrama shows, the lure of quick money and the influence of corrupt individuals remain strong. It is imperative for cricketing authorities to remain vigilant and to continue to enforce stringent measures to protect the integrity of the sport.
Conclusion
The string of match-fixing scandals that have engulfed Sri Lankan cricket over the past decade is a tragic reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist within the sport. From the downfall of Sachithra Senanayake to the recent charges against Praveen Jayawickrama, it is clear that corruption continues to pose a significant threat to the game’s integrity.
While the ICC and the SLC have made commendable efforts to curb this menace, the recurrence of such incidents indicates that more needs to be done. Cricket, a sport that has brought joy to millions of Sri Lankans, must be safeguarded from those who seek to tarnish its reputation for personal gain. The journey to restore the full trust of fans and to ensure a clean and fair game is long, but it is a journey that must be taken if the spirit of cricket is to prevail
