We sold 2011 World Cup final to India: former Sri Lankan minister

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Sri Lanka’s former sports minister has alleged that his country ‘sold’ the 2011 World Cup final to India, reviving one of the cricket’s most explosive match-fixing controversies.

In an interview, Mahindananda Aluthgamage said, “I tell you today that we sold the 2011 World Cup finals,” adding, “Even when I was sports minister I believed this.”

The country’s sports minister claimed that the final was fixed. He further said that he did not want to disclose the plot at the time. “In 2011, we were to win. I feel I can talk about it now. I am not connecting players, but some sections were involved,” he alleged.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage is the second senior figure to allege the final was fixed, after 1996 World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka lost the match at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium by six wickets. Indian players have strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Ranatunga, who was at the stadium as a commentator, has previously called for an investigation into the defeat.

“When we lost, I was distressed and I had a doubt,” he said in July 2017. “We must investigate what happened to Sri Lanka at the 2011 World Cup final.”

“I cannot reveal everything now, but one day I will. There must be an inquiry,” added Ranatunga, who said players could not hide the “dirt”.

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 274-6 off 50 overs. They appeared in a commanding position when Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar was out for 18.

But India turned the game dramatically, thanks partly to poor fielding and bowling by Sri Lanka, who were led by Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka introduced tough penalties for match-fixing and tightened sports betting restrictions in November in a bid to stamp out graft.

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