Sachithra Senanyake convicted of match-fixing - (Source :@NewsWire/X.com)
Former Sri Lanka spinner Sachithra Senanayake has dealt a fresh setback as the 40-year-old has been found guilty of match-fixing by Sri Lankan court. Notably, Hambantota High Court has officially charged Sachithra with the accusations of luring fellow cricketers to fix a match during 2020 Lanka Premier League.
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“Senanayake is also alleged to have contacted two other cricketers participating in the inaugural LPL in 2020 via telephone from Dubai, attempting to persuade them to engage in match-fixing,” a report in the Sri Lankan ‘Daily Mirror’ stated.
According to local media, he made the corrupt approach to another national player Tharindu Ratnayake, who was playing for Colombo Kings at that time. It is not the first time that Sachithra has landed in hot waters as he was arrested for the same in 2023 and released on bail.
Back then, the former KKR star denied the allegations but a three-month travel ban was imposed on him in August 2023 following the Attorney General's directions to the Sports Ministry's Special Investigation Unit to press criminal charges against him.
Talking about Senanayake's cricketing career, The 40-year-old played one Test, 49 ODIs and 24 T20 Internationals for Sri Lanka between 2012 and 2016 for a combined haul of 78 wickets. He tasted success in his career as he was part of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup winning squad in 2014.
Sachithra was also part of Kolkata Knight Riders' camp in 2013, which was his only appearance in the cash-studded league. Besides the ongoing match-fixing trouble, Senanayake isn't new to controversies as the 40-year-old was also under the radar in 2014, when he was banned from bowling because of an illegal action.