'Don’t understand why Sanga and Mahela are making a big deal about this' - Former Sri Lanka Sports Minister on 'fixed' 2011 World Cup final

Sri Lanka’s ex Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage shook the entire cricketing fraternity by his recent revelation. Aluthgamage, on Thursday, claimed that the 2011 World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka at Wankhede was fixed. It was an unforgettable encounter for all Indian fans as the MS Dhoni-led side clinched the coveted trophy by defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets.

Aluthgamage, who was the Sports Minister when the World Cup took place, didn’t involve cricketers in the fixing. However, he claimed that there were certain groups which were definitely involved in the match-fixing. Sri Lanka had called Suraj Randiv and Chaminda Vaas for the final as standby to Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews, who suffered injuries. While Muralitharan played the final, Mathews missed out the game.

“I would not involve the cricketers in this. However, certain groups were definitely involved in fixing the game,” Aluthgamage had claimed while speaking to Daily Mirror.

“The team who played the final match was not the team we had selected, finalized and sent off. At the last moment, without the consultation of either me as the then minister of Sports or officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket Control Board, four new players had been included to the team,” Aluthgamage had added.

I am not referring to any of our players: Mahindananda Aluthgamage

In reply to Aluthgamage’s claims, Mahela Jayawardene, who slammed an unbeaten ton in the final, and Kumar Sangakkara, the then skipper of Sri Lanka, had asked Aluthgamage to provide proof of match-fixing. In reply, the former Sports Minister questioned why are Jayawardene and Sangakkara making a big deal out of the issue. He even added that he was not referring to any of Sri Lankan players.

“Mahela has said that the circus has started. I don’t understand why Sanga and Mahela are making a big deal about this,” Aluthgamage said in response as quoted by Cricket Next.

“I am not referring to any of our players. Everyone is talking about just two minutes of a half an hour interview I gave to a TV channel. Even Arjuna Ranatunga has openly talked about match-fixing issues earlier,” he added.