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The Lanka Premier League (LPL) announced the termination of the Dambulla Thunders franchise, effective immediately after their owner Tamim Rahman, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin. was on Wednesday arrested on suspicion of indulging in match-fixing.
An official from the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offenses Relating to Sports at the Sports Ministry confirmed the arrest of the individual, who holds British citizenship. The Colombo Magistrate’s Court remanded Rahman to custody until May 31.
He was being investigated under two provisions of the country’s sports act related to match-fixing and attempting to place bets.
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Sri Lanka Cricket in a statement said:
‘While the specifics of the charges against Mr. Rahman remain unclear, the integrity and smooth functioning of the Lanka Premier League are of utmost importance. This termination aims to uphold the values and reputation of the LPL, ensuring that all participants adhere to the highest standards of conduct and sportsmanship.’
‘The LPL management is working diligently to address the consequences of this termination and to ensure minimal disruption to the upcoming season.’
‘The LPL remains committed to delivering an exciting and competitive tournament and will take all necessary steps to maintain the league’s integrity and success.’
“We are committed to the highest standards of transparency and professionalism and will continue to support all our teams, players, and fans during this transition.” LPL rights holder IPG group chairman Anil Mohan said.
The LPL is scheduled to take place between July 1 and 21. The auction for the fifth edition of LPL, with the participation of 500 local and international players, was held on Tuesday.
Four years after it started amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Matheesha Pathirana on Tuesday became the most expensive Lanka Premier League player ever, commanding a USD 120,000 price tag as he ended up with his old team, Colombo Strikers, for the 2024 edition of the tournament.
Pathirana recently played for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
The league was initially supposed to begin in 2018 but was postponed multiple times owing to administrative issues within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The current title holder of LPL is B-Love Kandy, who won the 2023 edition by defeating Dambulla Aura in the final. The tournament is competed among five franchises.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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