Sri Lankan Players Deny Being Approached
The three Sri Lankan cricketers who were reported to have approached by a bookmaker during a home test series against Australia in August, 1992, have denied all allegations in that regard
news item, that appeared in The Sunday Times-London said that these three players were approached by an Indian Bookmaker and offered money for information and match forecasts. According to the paper the three players have denied the offer and subsequently gone to the BCCSL to ask for police protection. It said that a source suggested that other Sri Lankan players took the bookmakers money.
In an interview to the Sunday Times in London then BCCSL president Tyron Fernando has admitted that the concerns of the three players were not treated with due seriousness. He had said "It was a different time. Such things were new to us and it was a period when the national team was busy playing a lot of cricket. In hindsight we should have taken the matter more seriously."
When contacted Mr. Fernando told us that there was talk among the officials of the BCCSL at the time about an approach by a bookie. The Board then decided to end the matter there and not to disturb the team.
The Sunday Times in London also quoted former Sri Lankan captain Sidath Wetttamuny saying that three of the guys had been approached and Roshan who was one of them had come to speak to him about it.
When contacted Roshan Mahanama said that he was surprised to hear about it and totally denies that a approached him during that tour. He also denied that he had spoken to Sidath about any such matter
Present captain Sanath Jayasuriya said that there was no truth in it, pointing out that he was not even in the team for that particular match.
When asked whether they hope to conduct any inquiry of match-fixing in Sri Lanka the Interim Committee Chairman, Rienzie Wijetillake , said "absolutely not".