New Delhi: A Test match between India and Sri Lanka last year may have been played on a pitch doctored at the behest match-fixers, a sting operation conducted by ‘Al Jazeera’ news channel has claimed. This has prompted the ICC to launch an investigation into the matter, Saturday. The programme will be aired Sunday.
The TV network has claimed that a well-known former Mumbai first class cricketer Robin Morris, who is now allegedly a match-fixer, admitted to his involvement in bribing a groundsman at Galle last year to alter the pitch before an India-Sri Lanka game which was played July 26-29.
The ICC said it is investigating. “We have already launched an investigation working with anti-corruption colleagues from member countries based on the limited information we have,” ICC GM (anti-corruption unit) Alex Marshall said in a statement.
“We have made repeated requests that all evidence and supporting materials related to this corruption is released immediately to enable us to undertake a full and comprehensive investigation,” he added.
The channel in its website has given a detailed account of what transpired. “The groundsman, Tharanga Indika, assistant manager at the Galle Stadium, says he can make pitches to favour either bowlers or batsmen. If you want a pitch for spinners or pacers or batting, it can be done,” the channel claimed.
In the clipping, the 41-year-old Morris gestures towards Indika, and says: “What happens is he – we – can make a pitch to do whatever we want it to do. Because he’s the main curator, he is the assistant manager and curator of the Galle Stadium.”
The track in that match was a belter on which India won by 304 runs. India scored 600 and 240 for three declared while Sri Lanka could only manage 291 and 245 in their two innings. and were beaten comprehensively within four days.
Indika allegedly claimed to the website that he prepared the pitch for the batsmen. “India were set for a batting wicket. We pressed the wicket thoroughly with a roller and then we put water on it to make it even harder,” he has been quoted as saying in the video of the sting.
In fact, the former India U-19 seamer-all-rounder also claimed that the next ‘pitch fix’ will happen during England’s tour of Sri Lanka in November, this year at the same venue.
In another development ‘The Australian’ newspaper reported Saturday the documentary will allege spot-fixers bribed the groundsman at Galle to doctor the pitch used for the 2016 second Test between hosts Sri Lanka and Australia. The touring side were bowled out for 106 and 183 in the match and lost by 229 runs in less than three days.
Indian first class cricketer Robin Morris involved in fixing
The pitch at the Galle Stadium was ‘doctored’ before the India-Sri Lanka game
The channel claimed that the pitch was doctored ahead of Sri-Lanka game in 2016
In early 2016, the ICC suspended erstwhile Galle curator Jayananda Warnaweera for three years as he refused to co-operate with the ICC ACU