Hashan Tillakaratne: Fixing is rampant in Sri Lankan cricket, stops short of saying final was fixed

Sri Lanka News: Is Hashan Tillakaratne the whistle-blower from Sri Lanka?

Hashan Tillakaratne, former Sri Lanka captain and a politician, has sent shock-waves across the cricketing fraternity by revealing that match-fixing is a common practice in Sri Lankan cricket and has been going on for the last 20 years. He has vowed to unmask all those who have been involved in this menace.

While talking to Sri Lankan Daily Mirror, he appeared to have expressed doubt over the result of the World Cup final that was held in Mumbai. "I am not saying that this match (The world cup final) was fixed. But anyway match fixing is something which has been in this country over a period of time. This has spread like a cancer today". He said.

"I can tell this in agreement with my conscience. Match fixing is not something that started happening yesterday or today. According to my knowledge, it happened since 1992. I say this with great responsibility" said Tillakaratne. His words can trigger a huge uproar as he has 'blamed' IPL if one reads his comments - in between the lines - about selection of Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup.

"The world cup team was selected on the (January) 7th. I questioned at a TV show why this team was picked on the day before the IPL auction. The IPL auction was on the (January) 8th. Then it was said that we have time when we pick the team before the IPL auction and it was said that we have enough time as there were ten more days. Those were the excuses given". "Also at the provincial tournament on the (January) 11th, 12th and 13th, we had the quarter finals, semi finals and the finals. If Sri Lanka Cricket conducted a tournament, we could have watched those tournaments and picked the team two or three days later. If that happened, I believe another two or three players could have replaced some of the players. I had my doubts whether it was the best team that was picked" Tillakaratne said.

Expanding his point further, he raised the question of why there were four changes in the team that played the final. "Why were four players changed for this match? Those are questions that should be asked. Arjuna (Ranatunga) spoke about this, we who have played cricket talk about this. We were playing an entirely different side"

"Why was Mendis removed to put another spinner, Kapugedara was never among runs but he was chosen to replace Chamara Silva. It is not fair, is it?" he observed.

Tillakaratne has led Sri Lanka in Ten Tests between 2003 and 2004 and has represented in 83 test matches as well as 200 ODIs. Talking in a talk show after the final, he said: "There were threats of this issue being exposed during various times. But it was pushed down by giving money to various people. If the people who were responsible for that are listening to this, I state this today with great responsibility, I will shortly reveal the names of those responsible."

"This situation was always there. When it came out from time to time, it was quietly swept under the carpet. If someone doesn't intervene and stop this menace, within another two-three years in this country, with these politics, with these corrupt administrators, I believe this country won't be second to Pakistan in the near future," Tillakaratne said.

This is the first time reverberations about match-fixing are echoing in Sri Lanka. Hashan has always been known as a calm, sensible man with a calculated approach while talking to media. Whether he successfully unearths the 'mafia' behind corruption in his country is another matter, but by saying what he has said, he has embarked on a path which is both difficult as well as dreadful.