Sri Lanka extends support to probe on its cricket team

**By APD writer Easwaran **

COLOMBO, Sept. 25 (APD) – Sri Lanka on Sunday said it will support an investigation launched by the world cricketing body on its national cricket team.

The Sri Lanka Cricket board said that the International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) commenced a preliminary inquiry in Colombo with regard to various allegations that had been circulating in the recent past.

The executive committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket board issued a directive to all local officials and employees to extend their fullest cooperation providing any and all information required in order to assist the ACU in a thorough inquiry.

“We are most pleased that the ICC ACU has decided to initiate this inquiry. We request all those who have any information to come forward and help with this inquiry by declaring all their information and evidence rather than casting aspersionsfrom the sidelines and damaging the reputation of our players, our cricket and our Nation. We believe this will exonerate our National players, who themselves have requested an inquiry. We are committed to working closely with the ICC to complete this inquiry expeditiously and give our players the freedom to concentrate on playing their cricket without the cloud of these various allegations, which no doubt affect their game, hanging over them,” Chief Executive Officer the Sri Lanka Cricket Board Ashley de Silva said.

The International Cricket Council said it had initiated investigations in Sri Lanka and its Anti-Corruption Unit officers recently visited the country.

ICC’s General Manager ACU, Alex Marshall, said the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit works to uphold integrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigations where there are reasonable grounds to do so.

“There is currently an ICC (ACU) investigation underway in Sri Lanka. Naturally as part of this we are talking to a number of people,” he said.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)