Sangakkara, SLC come out in defence of Dilshan
Fri, 09/10/2010 - 09:17
New Delhi, Sep 10 (IBNS) A British tabloid reported on Friday that Sri Lankan Tilakaratne Dilshan was under the International Cricket Council (ICC) scanner for his alleged links with a bookie but captain Kumar Sangakkara and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) defended the player saying that pacer Dilhara Fernado was approached by a bookie, and that the incident was reported to the world body,.
SLC's Chief Executive Officer, Ajith Jayasekara, also denied that Dilshan had ever been a suspect. He revealed the information about Fernando being approached by a bookie.
"We have no reasons to suspect any of our team members being involved in any such thing like fixing. We encourage players to report any suspicious behaviour they observe. Players should not be afraid of reporting this," Sangakkara told reporters.
Sangakkara said he trained with Tilakaratne this morning but had not had a word with him on the report of British daily Daily Mail, which claimed that Dilshan was the player named in a SLC report to the ICC'S ACSU last year.
"I have not seen anything of this sort during the Indian Premier League (IPL). We need to give good game to the sports. I am sure people will embrace the game," said Sangakkara.
"If anything had to be reported it would be done with the cricket board. The players are always told to report anything suspicious. No drastic action necessary on my part, but if the cricket board and Dilshan feel it necessary, they will do the needful," he said.
SLC spokesman Brian Thomas described it as "character assassination."
SLC's Chief Executive Officer, Ajith Jayasekara, also denied that Dilshan had ever been a suspect. He revealed the information about Fernando being approached by a bookie.
"In May 2009, the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit travelled to Sri Lanka to interview Sri Lanka's cricketers with regard to the Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus," said the Sri Lankan board in a press statement.
"During their visit to Sri Lanka, Dilhara Fernando voluntarily reported a suspicious approach to the team management and it was immediately referred to the ICC Anti Corruption Unit who in turned carried out a regulation interview with Dilhara...we can confirm that no further information has been provided to us with regard to this incident or player that necessitates any action or raises any concern," it added.
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