SLC suspends fast bowling coach and net bowler on match fixing suspicions

Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake and net bowler Gayan Vishvajith have been suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on match fixing charges, SLC announced yesterday. 

In a press release, SLC said Vishwajith had approached several players with the aim of getting them to fix matches, and that he has now been “totally barred in participating in any capacity whatsoever in Sri Lanka Cricket in the future”.

Samaranayake’s involvement however is less clear, though SLC did reveal that they had conducted a preliminary inquiry after they had received several complaints over Samaranayake’s “close acquaintance” with Vishwajith. Samaranayake will therefore be suspended for a period of two months until further investigations are concluded.

Earlier this month the Sports Ministry had called on the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to conduct an investigation into an alleged fixing approach made to Kusal Perera ahead of Sri Lanka’s Test against the West Indies in Galle. Following investigations it was revealed that the main suspect was net bowler Gayan Vishvajith.