"Officials Purchased Car Companies": Ex-Sri Lanka Sports Minister On 'Fixed' 2011 World Cup Final

Former Sri Lanka sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage sparked fire claiming that 2011 World Cup final against India was fixed. Following his claims, which did not have proofs to back it, Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena had took a dig on him and said that his statements are ‘politically oriented’.

“Then no one needs to speculate and can get to the bottom of this. That should be the most prudent course of action,” Sangakkara was quoted as saying by Sri Lankan outlet newsfirst.lk.

While Mahela Jayawardene, who had scored a century in the final, had earlier tweeted “Is the elections around the corner Looks like the circus has started Clown face names and evidence? #SLpolitics #ICC.

Following his accusations, the secretary to Sri Lanka’s sports ministry has filed a complaint with special investigations unit to probe into the matter.

I did not refer to any player, clarifies ex-Sri Lanka sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage

Aluthgamage said that he has written about the matter to the ICC in 2012. However, there is no response from their end. After Jayawardene and Sangakkara lashed out at him, he also clarified that his comments were not meant for the players as several officials bought car companies after Sri Lanka lost the final.

“I didn’t refer to any player,” and that he was only speaking about officials who had “purchased car companies” after the match.

“I wrote to the ICC in 2012 regarding this matter, yet they failed to respond. The Team changed in the last moment without prior consultation

“An Indian newspaper knew about the team change before us, but how? This match made me initiate anti-fixing bill,” he added.

India, on the contrary, lifted the World Cup after 27 years.