The grass-banked Pallekele Stadium should provide a pleasant setting for the resumption of Sri Lanka and England’s rain-affected one-day series. But going into today’s third match, the dark clouds of cricket’s battle with corruption hovered overhead.
Cricket is woven into the fabric of this island and after one of its great players, Sanath Jayasuriya, was this week charged by the International Cricket Council with two counts of failing to cooperate with an investigation into possible match-fixing, the topic was always going to dominate as the teams prepared
yesterday.
Jayasuriya issued a statement saying he has always conducted himself “with integrity and transparency” and, with his legal team, is preparing a full response before the ICC’s 14-day deadline. He added that “the charges do not contain any allegations pertaining to match-fixing, pitch-fixing or any other similar corrupt activity.”
The ICC investigation, one of three taking place in the country, is looking into events that coincide with the former opener’s since terminated second spell as the Sri Lanka chairman of selectors; the fourth match of last year’s 3-2 one-day series defeat to Zimbabwe is understood to have prompted the investigation particular.
When the batsman Dasun Shanaka, who did not feature in that series, was asked at the press conference yesterday whether Jayasuriya’s charges were affecting the squad, as they look to level the series with England, the team manager, Charith Senanayake, sitting alongside him was quick to step in.
“We have decided the players will not answer any questions with regard to Sanath,” said Senanayake, whose role only began in July and thus after the period in question.
“It is not a distraction as Sanath has no role to play with the squad at the moment. As a team as a whole, we would like to stay away without a comment on the whole saga.”
England, who like Sri Lanka’s players received a briefing by the ICC’s anti-corruption chief, Alex Marshall, before the series, were more open on the topic. Moeen Ali stressed that while he has never been approached by would-be corruptors and hopefully never will be, the need to be vigilant remains given the possible damage to cricket as a whole.
He said: “It is always a concern when it is the sport we love and one that people pay to watch. From my point of view, it has nothing to do with us. As a team we just crack on with the game and let [the ICC] do their job. But it is always a concern for the game.
“We have [the anti-corruption] chat twice a year about what to look out for – the new things coming up – just to keep us aware. It is good information that as cricketers we need to know. You want people to watch the game thinking everything is right and played fairly.
“It is important for the game and players as well. You want to inspire the new generation and bring new people to the game. You cannot afford to make mistakes like that.”
England go into today’s third match with one enforced change, having lost Liam Dawson to a side strain. His replacement as the third spinner/all-rounder, Joe Denly, will not arrive in time and when the team trained under lights, Tom Curran was favourite among the spare seamers to step up.
The Surrey right-armer’s variations may need to come to the fore given a pitch that produced totals of 363 for seven and 306 for seven – the latter from 39 overs – when Sri Lanka and South Africa played two matches here in August.
England have never before compiled 300 in a one-day international on Sri Lanka soil and for their powerful lineup to do so it will require the afternoon rains to stay away – the 2.30pm start does not help – and a better showing against Lasith Malinga.
Moeen, bowled first ball by one of the 35-year-old’s slow dipping yorkers during Saturday’s 31-run DLS win in Dambulla, said: “He did me like an absolute kipper. He is the threat and we have to be a bit smarter with way we play against him.”
Sri Lankan batsman Dasun Shanaka (left) speaks with coach Chandika Hathurusingha during a practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele yesterday. (AFP)
