In a shocking turn of events, former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has been arrested due to match-fixing allegations by the Sports Corruption Investigation Unit.
Senanayake surrendered himself on Wednesday, September 6, following accusations of attempting to fix games during the 2020 edition of the Lanka Premier League, Sri Lanka’s most popular T20I tournament. He is further alleged to have enticed players to participate in match-fixing activities during the tournament.
The court, in response to the serious allegations, has prohibited Senanayake from traveling overseas for a duration of three weeks. The Special Investigation Unit of the Sports Ministry has directed the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to initiate criminal charges against the retired player.
Sachithra Senanayake, known for his prowess as a spinner who relied on variations, enjoyed a successful international career. He represented Sri Lanka in one Test match, 49 ODIs, and 24 T20Is, contributing significantly with 78 wickets.
His Test debut took place against Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in December 2014, while his first ODI appearance was against South Africa in Kimberley on January 20, 2012. Notably, Senanayake was a formidable force in the T20I format, where he maintained an impressive economy rate, conceding runs at just 6.77 runs per over.
In the midst of these developments, the Sri Lankan cricket team is actively participating in the Asia Cup, recently securing a dramatic win over Afghanistan by just two runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday. This victory propelled them into the Super Fours stage of the tournament, their next challenge will be against Bangladesh at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on September 9.
Under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan team has showcased impressive cricket skills throughout the tournament. They emerged victorious in both of their group stage encounters, defeating Bangladesh by five wickets and narrowly edging out Afghanistan by the slimmest of margins.
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