After 9 Years, Sri Lanka Opens Criminal Investigation Over 2011 World Cup Final Loss

Sri Lanka has formally launched a criminal investigation into their defeat in the 2011 World Cup final.

File Image (AFP)

New Delhi: More than 9 years after their loss to Team India at the Wankhede, Sri Lanka has formally launched a criminal investigation into their defeat in the 2011 World Cup final.  Sri Lankan opener Upal Tharanga, who scored two runs off 20 deliveries in the final, was called in after investigators and recorded his statement. This was soon after a 6-hour grilling of 1996 World Cup-winning hero Aravinda De Silva, who was also the chairman of selectors in 2011. It is expected that that investigation will not include questioning or recording statements of any Indian, player or official. The investigation was launched after government minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who was sports minister at the time, alleged that Sri Lanka threw the match in April 2011. It may be recalled that Mahela Jayawardene and then skipper Kumara Sangakkara both have rubbished this investigation and called it politically motivated. Sangakkara had resigned as skipper after the final defeat and Jayawardene took over. Sri Lanka, batting first had scored 274/6 runs in the final after a superb century (103 not out) from Jayawardene. India had lost its openers cheaply but Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and skipper MS Dhoni sealed the victory for India. Dhoni's last-ball six to win the World Cup was one of the most iconic moments of the 2011 world cup, which India won after 28 years.