Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has been formally indicted by the Hambantota High Court on charges related to match-fixing during the 2020 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), local media reported on Thursday.
The 40-year-old ex-spinner is accused of attempting to corrupt two fellow players by contacting them from Dubai ahead of LPL fixtures. Among those approached was national teammate Tharindu Ratnayake, who was playing for the Colombo Kings at the time.
This development comes after Senanayake’s earlier arrest in 2023 on similar allegations. Although he denied the accusations, a three-month travel ban was imposed on him in August last year. The Attorney General had advised the Sports Ministry’s Special Investigation Unit to proceed with formal charges.
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If proven, this would make Senanayake the first national-level player in Sri Lanka to be prosecuted under the country’s revised anti-corruption laws targeting sports-related offences.
Senanayake represented Sri Lanka between 2012 and 2016, playing in all three formats. He took 78 international wickets and was a part of the squad that lifted the 2014 T20 World Cup. Known for his off-spin and lower-order resilience, he also had a productive domestic career, claiming nearly 300 first-class wickets.