Lanka T10 2024 under controversy after franchise owner arrested

While the Lanka T10 Super League 2024 has started after a long disturbance, the tournament has already entered controversies. A co-owner of a franchise team of the tournament has been arrested by Sri Lanka Sports Police Unit in an allegation of match-fixing.

Lanka T10 Super League 2024 is the first edition of the tournament as the Sri Lankan venue Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy is hosting the entire competition between December 11 and 19, 2024. Six teams are participating in this tournament, and they are Colombo Jaguars, Galle Marvels, Hambantota Bangla Tigers, Jaffna Titans, Kandy Bolts, and Nuwara Eliya Kings.

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Galle Marvels' co-owner arrested on match-fixing charge

Galle Marvels’ co-owner Prem Thakkar has been arrested in the match-fixing controversy in the tournament. According to an ESPNcricinfor report, the Indian origin was arrested by the Sri Lanka Sports Police Unit under the 2019 Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act.

The ESPNcricinfo report claimed that one foreign player reported a fixing approach to the player by the Galle Marvels’ co-owner Thakkar. During the tournament running on Thursday, the co-owner was arrested at a Kandy hotel. 

Despite the match-fixing allegation, Lanka T10 tournament director Samantha Dodanwela has confirmed the tournament continuation as per the schedule. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) hasn't commented officially on this incident. 

Dambulla Thunders' co-owner was previously arrested

In 2019, Sri Lanka became the first country in South Asia to criminalise match-fixing. This offence can result in hefty fines along with prison of up to ten years. Last May, one of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchises, Dambulla Thunders' co-owner Tamim Rahman was arrested on a match-fixing allegation.