The Court of Appeal today ordered to recall the warrant issued to arrest the Chairman of Selectors at Sri Lanka Cricket, Upul Tharanga related to a case filed on match-fixing.

The warrant was initially issued over the former cricketer’s failure to appear before the court pertaining to a case Upul Tharanga himself had filed concerning the Legends League cricket tournament held in Kandy.

On October 08, the Matale High Court issued an arrest warrant after Upul Tharanga failed to appear in court in connection with the match-fixing case. It was reported that Tharanga was unable to attend the hearing, as he was in the United States participating in a franchise cricket tournament.

Following this development, on October 16, the Court of Appeal issued an order suspending the arrest warrant previously issued by the Matale High Court against Upul Tharanga. In its order, the Court of Appeal instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) not to enforce the warrant issued by the Matale High Court. 

Upul Tharanga appeared before the Court of Appeal in person today, during which the court was informed that he had attempted to inform his unavailability for the case fixed for hearing on October 08 at the Matale High Court. 

The court was informed that Tharanga had taken all steps from October 01 to inform the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Officer of his unavailability for the hearing on October 08, after which he was not informed of any issue prior to his departure from the country.

Screenshots of the call records had also been placed before the Court of Appeal, which was further informed that only on October 07 Upul Tharanga had been informed by the SIU Officer that the court may find fault with him and to retain a lawyer, despite having already informed the SIU in writing of his absence. 

The court was further informed that the prosecution who had used the documents submitted by Upul Tharanga to the SIU had moved the Matale High Court for a warrant for him to be arrested at the airport.

Commenting that the Petitioner had cooperated continuously, the Court of Appeal observed that seeking to arrest him at the airport was unreasonable.

Having been given an undertaking that Upul Tharanga would attend the hearing at the Matale High Court on January 15, 2025, the Court of Appeal ordered to invalidate the warrant by recalling the warrant issued on Upul Tharanga on October 08.

Counsel Nishan Sydney Premathiratne AAL appeared with Attorneys Shenali Dias and Vikum Jayasinghe on the instructions of Gamindu Karunasena for the Petitioner, Upul Tharanga, while DSG Manohara Jayasinghe, AAL appeared for the State. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has issued an order suspending the arrest warrant previously issued by the Matale High Court against former Sri Lankan cricketer Upul Tharanga.

Last week, the Matale High Court issued the warrant after Tharanga, who is currently serving as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, failed to appear in court in connection with a match-fixing case. The case stems from an investigation Tharanga himself initiated concerning the Legends League cricket tournament held in Kandy.

Tharanga was unable to attend the hearing, as he is currently in the United States participating in a franchise cricket tournament

In its order, the Court of Appeal instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) not to enforce the warrant issued by the Matale High Court. This development has drawn significant attention within the cricketing community, with many expressing concern over the legal challenges faced by Tharanga, despite being the original complainant in the case.

Criticism has been directed at the Police Sports Investigation Unit, with some suggesting that the handling of this case could deter players from filing match-fixing complaints in the future, given the complexities and difficulties of the legal process.

“On behalf of Upul Tharanga, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Senior Lawyer Nishan Premathiratne and his efficient team for their efforts in this matter. We are also thankful to the Court of Appeal for taking up our petition and ruling in favour of Upul after carefully considering our show of cause,” said Tharanga’s manager, Shyam Impett. (Newswire)

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Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka’s chief selector and former international cricketer, is leading the run charts in the newly formed National Cricket League (NCL), a T10 tournament based in the USA.

Tharanga, who retired from international cricket in 2020, has outpaced several current stars, including fellow Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews, who ranks third in the standings, having played one less game.

The NCL features a mix of retired and active cricketers. Current players like Tim David, Imran Tahir, Colin Munro, and Mikyle Louis are part of the competition, alongside Test players Mathews and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, who captain Atlanta Kings CC and LA Waves CC, respectively. Other captains include retired stars Suresh Raina, Shahid Afridi, Dinesh Karthik, and Robin Uthappa.

Tharanga’s strong form in the tournament highlights his enduring abilities despite stepping away from international cricket. (NewsWire)

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The Matale High Court has issued a warrant against Upul Tharanga, Chairman of the Selection Committee at Sri Lanka Cricket, for failing to appear in court today (8).

The warrant pertains to a match-fixing case that Tharanga himself had filed a complaint over related to the Legends League tournament played in Kandy.

Upul Tharanga is currently in the United States playing in a franchise cricket tournament. (NewsWire)

More on the complaint

https://www.newswire.lk/2024/08/27/2024-legends-trophy-fixing-indian-team-manager-sentenced

https://www.newswire.lk/2024/03/15/match-fixing-two-foreign-cricket-managers-banned-from-leaving-the-country/

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Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Chairman Upul Tharanga has expressed confidence in the 15-member national squad picked for the ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup, stating that the team has the required batting power for the tournament. 

Addressing the media, Upul Tharanga said the squad has been selected after taking into consideration their current level of performance, as well as their additional skills that could contribute to strengthening the team.

Upul Tharanga made the remarks while responding to questions on the exclusion of Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Kusla Janith Perera from the national squad.

He said Dhanajaya De Silva had claimed a spot in the team as he is strong in both batting and bowling and has shown results in his last few performances. 

On Kusal Janith Perera’s exclusion, Tharanga further said it was regrettable that the cricketer could not lock a spot in the squad, adding that the decision was taken as he had failed to perform well in his last few matches for Sri Lanka.

“We waited until the last moment and were engaged in discussions. But it did not work out. We also had to take into consideration the squad requirements of the trainers and skipper as well. The 15-member squad and travelling reserves were picked based on these requirements,” Tharanga explained. 

Expressing confidence in the selected 15-member national squad, Tharanga pointed out that the likes of Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dasun Shanaka were sure to yield results.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, although he was not picked in the 15-member squad, will travel to the US as a travelling reserve for the tournament. (Newswire)

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