The dispute ridden Lanka Premier League (LPL) cricket tournament could be turned inside-out following a backlash threatened by the owner of one team Tamim Rahuman who was released on bail on Friday after he was remanded on a court order in connection over allegations of match-fixing and corruption in sports. He will reappear in court on July 7 and has been banned from leaving the country.
Rahaman, a Bangladesh national holding British citizenship, was the owner of the Dambulla Thunders team that is to contest next month’s LPL which has been sold to another owner and the team renamed Dambulla Sixes while he was in remand custody pending trial.
Rahaman claimed that he paid Rs.420 million to secure the rights of the Dambulla Thunders.
“I was surprised when I heard that Innovate Production Group (IPG) announced the new owner for the Dambulla franchise while court proceedings were on. I came to participate in the (players) auction as the owner of the Dambulla Thunders team in the LPL tournament.
“I have already spent Rs. 420 million rupees to buy Dambulla Thunders.
“The IPG group (LPL owner) has no right to transfer the ownership of Dambulla Thunders team to someone else.
“I will file a civil case against (IPG owner) Anil Mohan and another case against him in Dubai (where he resides)”, Rahaman told LN Sports after he was released on bail of Rs. 500,000 and Rs. 5 million on Friday.
