Sri Lanka Cricket bans two umpires for match fixing

Colombo: Sri Lankan umpires Sagara Gallage and Maurice de La Zilwa, who were caught in a TV sting willing to fix cricket matches for money, have been suspended for 10 and three years respectively while Gamini Dissanayake, the other accused umpire, was exonerated due to lack of evidence. After hearing the accused, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have found their involvement into the matter, though Dissanayake has escaped punishment but he has been stripped of his seniority, SLC ex-co sources said. [caption id=“attachment_944191” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sri Lanka Cricket has banned two umpires for their alleged involvement in match fixing. Getty Images.[/caption] In October last year, an Indian news channel purportedly caught on camera six ICC umpires from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh agreeing to help certain players, fix decisions as well provide pitch and team information predominantly in the Sri Lanka Premier League. Besides the Sri Lankans, Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui of Pakistan and Nadir Shah of Bangladesh were named. Sri Lankans Gallage, Maurice De la Zilwa and Gamini Dissanayake have been allegedly caught on tape agreeing to alter their decisions for money. They all denied accusations and called for a probe to clear their names. Dissanayake was alleged to have “promised to revolt” against Sri Lankan cricket if compensated monetarily. He also purportedly claimed that by providing liquor to Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) officials, one can get any work done. PTI