The Hambantota High Court has charged Sachithra Senanayake with trying to recruit a player for match-fixing during 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL). This makes the department’s case the first instance of a national-level cricketer facing match-fixing charges in Sri Lanka since the new anti-corruption law was enacted. In 2023 the authorities arrested him and granted him bail. Sri Lanka called up the 40-year-old in 2012 to play 78 wickets in one Test, 49 ODIs and 24 T20s before his retirement in 2016. He played for Sri Lanka’s team that won the T20 World Cup in 2014.

What Does The Reports Says

Local media reports state that he attempted a corrupt approach toward another national player, Tharindu Ratnayake, who was then playing for the Colombo Kings.

“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. 

Who Is This Former Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayak

Sachithra Senanayake is a popular Sri Lankan singer and played all forms of cricket for his country. He is a top cricketer and currently only plays in limited overs games. He plays as an all-rounder in bowling, batting as a right-hander and bowling off spin. Senanayake made his debut in Sri Lankan colours during the fourth ODI against South Africa on the tour of 2011-12. He was only 18 years old when he played for his nation and he had taken 297 first-class wickets from 59 matches, with an impressive average of 20.50, along with 107 List A wickets and an excellent economy rate of 3.90.