Former Sri Lanka cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has refuted allegations connecting him to a particular match-fixing incident linked to the Lanka Premier League 2020 cricket tournament.
Issuing a statement, Senanayake said that many media outlets had linked him to the alleged incident revealed by fellow cricketer Tharindu Rathnayake on Tuesday (24).
Several media reported yesterday that International Cricket Council has launched investigations into alleged attempts of match-fixing linked to the LPL 2020.
Senanayake in a statement has refuted claims he was linked to any match-fixing attempts linked to the LPL tournament.
Full statement:
Public Notice of intended action
I refer to several media extracts published on 24th of November 2020 and several other posts appearing on Social media by direct reference and/or innuendo trying to defame, slander and attribute on me over matters that I have abosolutely no connection with.
Having obtained legal advice on same, I respond as follows.
The media extracts contained several alleged claims without mentioning my name explicitly, based on the statement made by one Tharindu Rathnayake, a fellow cricketer. I have known Mr. Rathnayake very well since 2016 as both of us play for SSC together. I have helped him on many occasions during this period as a team mate as he was trying to establish himself as a cricketer.
I vehemently deny any connection to me over the allegations that Tharindu is said to have made in connection with the ongoing LPL and I hereby place all media and the general public on express notice that I shall be compelled to take necessary action for any publication, dissemination or sharing of such unsubstantiated and manifestly frivolous allegations bringing myself, my cricket and my family into public ridicule, shame, detriment and damage.
-Sachithra Senanayake
ICC probes Lanka Premier League over alleged Match-Fixing attempt: NDTV