Sri Lanka fix matches since 1992, alleges Tillakaratne

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COLOMBO: Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne has made a sensational revelation that match fixing has been common in Sri Lanka's cricket and promised that he would come out with the names of the responsible persons in the near future.

Tillakaratne who led Sri Lanka in Ten Tests between 2003 and 2004 said that he could vouch with responsibility that Match fixing has been a problem in Sri Lanka's cricket since 1992.

"I can tell this in agreement with my conscience. Match fixing is not something that started happening yesterday or today. According to my knowledge, it happened since 1992. I say this with great responsibility" said Tillakaratne.

"I am not saying that this match (The world cup final) was fixed. But anyway match fixing is something which has been in this country over a period of time. This has spread like a cancer today" he explained.

"There were threats of this issue being exposed during various times. But it was pushed down by giving money to various people. If the people who were responsible for that are listening to this, I state this today with great responsibility, I will shortly reveal the names of those responsible" Tillakaratne promised when he appeared in a TV talk show.

"Why? Because there is a huge following of people who love cricket, and this is a side which they don't know about" he explained.

Former captain who said he did not imply categorically that the recent world cup final was fixed, however expressed his reservations about the selections.