'I am surprised the issue has come up after 10 years' - BCCI ACU Chief Ajit Singh after Sri Lanka investigate 2011 WC final

Sri Lanka’s former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage recently shocked many with his claims of the World Cup 2011 final being fixed. India had defeated Sri Lanka in the title clash at the Wankhede stadium to win the World Cup. After the fixing allegations, Sri Lanka’s government decided to launch an investigation and appointed a special investigation unit of police to look into the matter.

However, head of the BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) Ajit Singh is surprised with the issue coming up after more than nine years. He also feels that it is difficult to get the evidence now, if the match was actually fixed, as the investigation is delayed now.

“I am surprised the issue has come up after 10 years. As per my experience, more delayed the investigation, more difficult it is to get the evidence,” he said while speaking to The Week.

It is for ICC to investigate, says Ajit Singh

Moreover, Ajit Singh also went on to say that according to him, there were no issues with the final played in Mumbai. He also made a point that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would’ve have raised their concerns, if there were any chances of fixing. “The World Cup was played within the purview of the ICC. If there are any corruption related allegations, it is for the ICC to investigate. In India, no issues were raised regarding that match,” he further added.

Interestingly, Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) Anti Corruption Unit isn’t involved in the investigation as of now. However, the statements related to the happenings in the final are being taken already. After Upul Tharanga and Aravinda de Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, who led Sri Lanka in the final, is set to record his statement on Thursday.

Ajit Singh also spoke about Sri Lanka making corruption in sports a criminal offence and stated that the law cannot be enforced in retrospective. “It’s a fairly strict and comprehensive law they have brought to deal with corruption in sports. But the law can only be enforced on any offence which takes place since its inception,” he said.