SL sports ministry wants alleged fixing approach investigated

Sri Lanka's sports ministry has reported an alleged fixing approach made to Kusal Perera and one other Sri Lanka player to the country's Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID).

Perera and the other player had allegedly been approached by a net bowler during West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, in October. SLC officials have said both players immediately reported this approach to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), but the sports ministry has now moved to put a domestic investigation in motion, in light of Perera testing positive for a banned substance in an ICC doping test.

"There is some suspicion of a net bowler, who was around for that West Indies series, so the sports ministry has passed the information on to the FCID," sports ministry official KDS Ruwanchandra said. Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara has also previously suggested that a "conspiracy" may be to blame for Perera testing positive for a banned substance.

The fixing approach had allegedly been made in the approach to the Galle Test, which Sri Lanka comprehensively won. It is understood to have been a "soft" preliminary approach, meaning no specific fixes were requested, nor sums offered.

Perera has recently opted to have his B sample tested, and is awaiting full details from that test.