The report prepared by the six-member committee chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, investigating the allegations levelled against the cricket team during the T20 World Cup and the allegations against the conduct of ‘Born Again’ religious group in relation to the team, was handed over to Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday (10).

The report has been prepared with recommendations in two parts including the committee report and evidence. A copy of the report has been sent to Sports Ministry Secretary K. Maheshan as well.

It was reported that the Minister is currently studying the report in order to take necessary measures.

The report will also be sent to the National Sports Council and the National Selection Committee.

In the report of the committee, information is recorded at length about several key issues such as the misuse of funds, and the influence of social media.

The committee has recorded evidence from all relevant parties regarding the influence of the ‘born again’ religious group on the Sri Lankan cricket players.

Sports Minister Ranasinghe said the report prepared by the six-member committee investigating the allegations levelled against the Sri Lankan team during the T20 World Cup is a precedent not only for cricket but for the entire field of sports.

Based on this report, he said measures will be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future in the sports field and to develop the entire sports sector including the safety and welfare of the athletes.

The committee appointed by the Sports Minister included former Ministry Secretary Kingsley Fernando, retired DIG Sudath Nagahamulla, retired Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris, former cricketer Nalin de Alwis and lawyer Shalani Roshana Fernando.

India completed a clinical victory over Sri Lanka in the first match of the 3-game series in Guwahati this evening (10).

India secured a win by the margin of 67 runs where Virat Kohli and Umran Malik headlined the show.

The onset of 2023 could not have been more auspicious for India as Virat Kohli opened his account with a century and captain Rohit Sharma played a blazing 83 on his return to international cricket after being out of action due to thumb injury.

Openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma started off in rather aggressive fashion after being sent to bat first and raked up runs at a rapid rate and by the time that first wicket fell, India had already notched up more than 140 runs at the 19th over of the game.

India captain Rohit Sharma, picked up where he had left with a spirited half century, and scored 83 runs. Sharma would have been ruing the fact that he was not able to convert this into a century, which could have been his first since 2020.

Dasun Shanaka put up an impressive batting display with an unbeaten 108.

Suryakumar Yadav’s sublime century – his third in only 43 T20I innings – set up a series win for India against Sri Lanka after winning the 3rd match of the series by 91 runs.

Batting first in the decider, India scored 228 out of which Suryakumar hit 112 off just 51 balls. It was an innings full of trademark Suryakumar shots: inside-out drives over extra cover, ramps over short fine leg and wrists used to manufacture shots over square leg and point. India were helped along by a blazing start from Rahul Tripathi and a finishing kick from Axar Patel.

Sri Lanka kept getting boundaries in response but the asking rate was too high, and they kept losing wickets too often to seriously challenge the hosts.

Once Shivam Mavi and Axar interrupted a quick start from Sri Lanka, the small margin for error kept creating more shots that weren’t quite on.

The win took India’s unbeaten streak in T20I bilaterals at home to 11 series. Only one of these series was drawn.

India 228 for 5 (Suryakumar 112*, Gill 46, Madushanka 2-55)
Sri Lanka 137 (Mendis 23, Arshdeep 3-20, Hardik 2-30)