Kolkata: Former Sri Lankan cricketer Chamara Silva has been handed a two-year ban from all forms of cricket by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) after the player was found guilty of spot-fixing during a Tier-B first class cricket match, held from January 23 to 25.
The judgement from the board came seven months after the events of the third day of the Panadura Cricket Club vs Kalutara Physical Culture Club match played was enquired on match-fixing charges.
The SLC had started an investigation of the match when 24 wickets had fallen in a single day in 13 overs of play while a run rate of over 10 was maintained. The police also probed on other neighborhood clubs, so as to check if other clubs are involved in similar practise.
Silva, who was captaining the Panadura club, has been banned from playing, coaching or administrating in cricket for the next two years. Manoj Deshapriya, the captain of Kalutara Physical Club was also handed a similar punishment.
However, the rest of the players along with the coaches of both the teams were banned for a year. Both the clubs have also been ordered to pay a fine of rupees 50, 000 each.
The result of the match has been discounted as well, meaning Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club earns promotion to Tier-A instead of Panadura, while Kalutara face relegation, reported EspnCricinfo.
“He [Silva] is the captain-cum-coach [of Panadura], so he’s responsible,” SLC vice president K Mathivanan told EspnCricinfo.
He added, “For any team the captain is responsible. Whether he made the decision or not – we don’t know that part. But according to the ICC rules – even for slow over-rates – the captain is responsible.”
Sometime back Pakistani batsman Sharjeel Khan was handed a five year ban from all forms of cricket by the PCB, for his alleged role in match-fixing during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The cricketer readily accepted his faults, saying that he had played ‘two dot balls on purpose’ during a match in the PSL.