Jayawardene, Sangakkara respond to ex-sports minister's match-fixing claim on 2011 WC final
Thursday, 18 June 2020 (20:57 IST)
New Delhi:Former captain Mahela Jayawardene has rubbished former Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage's claim that the ICC World Cup 2011 final between India & Sri Lanka was fixed.
Jayawardene took to Twitter to respond to the claims made by Aluthgamage and sarcastically asked whether the elections are around the corner.
"Is the elections around the corner. Looks like the circus has started Clown face names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC (sic)," Jayawardene said in a social media post.
Notably, Jayawardene had played a great innings of 88-ball 103 but it ended in vain as Sri Lanka lost the World Cup 2011 final to India by 6 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. India chased down the 275-run target after match-winning nineties from MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir.
Meanwhile, the then-captain of Sri Lankan cricket team Kumar Sangakkara said as the allegations are very serious, the Ex-Minister must present any evidence available to prove his claim to the ICC.
''He needs to take his ''evidence'' to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated throughly,'' Sangakkara tweeted.
Aluthgamage, who was the sports minister of Sri Lanka during the 2011 World Cup, said he takes full responsibility for his statement while adding he won't involve cricketers in the latest row.
''The 2011 final was fixed. I stand by what I say. It took place when I was the Minister of Sports," Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Sri Lankan news outlet News 1st.
When further asked whether he is saying it with absolute responsibility, the former Sri Lanka sports minister said, ''I state with full responsibility. However, I do not wish to expose details for the sake of the country. The game against India in 2011, a game which we could have won, was fixed. ''
''I state it with responsibility and I can come forward for a debate. The people are concerned about it. I would not involve the cricketers in this. However, certain groups were definitely involved in fixing the game,'' he added.(UNI)
