Two alleged cricket match-fixers are on the prowl in the mountains of Kandy where they have infiltrated a showbiz tournament and into the space of some players contesting what has come to be called a Legends T20 championship that commenced on March 8 at the Pallekele International Stadium.
Seven franchise or teams owned by overseas businessmen are in the fray and the event is said to feature former Sri Lanka players who have teamed up with retired cricketers from England, Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and the West Indies.
Sri Lanka Cricket is not officially involved in the tournament but has provided the fertile ground or venue for the championship which runs until the end of next week.
The Sunday Observer learns that the noose is tightening around the two Indian match-fixers who have been prevented from leaving the country on a court order and the Katunayake airport authorizes as well as other exit points have been alerted .
One of the alleged match-fixers is said to be the manager of one of the teams who is reported to have approached players with offers of money to under-perform and fix the result of the matches that are currently being played to empty stands and no takers even for free tickets.
The Legends cricket tournament in Pallekele is said to have been mooted to rival a Legends championship called the Road Safety series in India which has been given official recognition by the Indian cricket board.
The Legends event in Sri Lanka was launched at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo last month at a grand ceremony with the names of Sanath Jayasujriya, Fervez Maharoof and Thisara Perera named on the agenda as promoters with Chaminda Vaas as the coach of one of the teams.
The media launch itself raised questions as a section of a high profile Press group unable to put up with a two-hour delay staged a walk-out in protest.
Member of Parliament Roshan Ranasinghe who waged a no-holds-barred campaign to clean up documented corruption at Sri Lanka Cricket when he was Sports Minister, was a staunch opponent of franchise cricket in the country that he alleged gave match-fixers a free run.
