Cricket News Desk. A Sri Lankan court has ordered confiscation of the passports of Indian nationals Yoni Patel and P Akash in the match-fixing case during the illegal Legends Cricket League. Both are currently on bail. He is accused of trying to fix matches in the league played from March 8 to 19 at the Pallakele Stadium in Kandy. Rajasthan Kings defeated New York Super Strikers in the final.
Patel is the owner of the Kandy Swamp Army team. Former Sri Lankan ODI captain and current chairman of the national selection committee Upul Tharanga and former New Zealand cricketer Neil Broom told the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lankan Sports Ministry that both had approached them about match-fixing due to their poor performance in the league. Patel and Akash cannot leave Sri Lanka until the investigation is completed. This league is not recognized by ICC from Sri Lanka Cricket.
Upul Tharanga and Neil Broom complained
Former Sri Lanka ODI captain and current chief selector Upul Tharanga and former New Zealand player Neil Broom had complained to the Sports Ministry's Special Investigation Unit that Patel and Akash had approached them for match-fixing after poor performances in the league. On the orders of the Magistrate Court, Patel and Akash have been barred from leaving the country till the investigation of the case is completed.
Sri Lanka was the first country in South Asia to enact a law on corruption and match-fixing and criminalize it in 2019. Any player or person found guilty under this Act can be jailed for up to 10 years and can also be fined. The Act also has a provision to punish players who do not report corrupt activities.
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