COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket’s Anti-Corruption Unit cracked down on an Indo-Pakistan betting operations at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo last week during the second Test.

But the culprits were later released as there were no local laws to prosecute them.

The unit’s head, retired Senior Police Superintendent Lakshman de Silva said they questioned two Pakistanis and three Indians who were supplying match commentaries to bookies in India and Pakistan while the second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was in progress.

“While we were on the prowl during the match, we happened to notice three individuals [the Indians] who were operating a clandestine commentary service via their mobile phones. Later, we also apprehended two Pakistanis who were involved in giving commentaries via their mobile phones,” de Silva, a former Director of the National Intelligence Bureau told the Sunday Times.

“On interrogation, we discovered that the commentaries were relayed direct to bookies in India and Pakistan for spot betting purposes. We also tried to ascertain if they had any local agents, cricket officials or players involved in this operation,” he said.

De Silva, a retired Senior Superintendent of Police, explained that they wanted to find out whether these individuals had any local connection and if so who they were, but there were no leads.

He said: “Betting is illegal in Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, laws against betting are weak in this country. We have printed the relevant clause at the rear of the tickets informing such ticket holders of the ban on betting while at the grounds. So all that we could do is to get their personal details, eject them from the venue and ban them from entering the playing venues during the rest of this particular series.”

The SLC’s Anti-Corruption head said they also had learned about a betting operation where the names of local cricketers were being used during horse and dog races.

“We are keeping a close vigil on this and we are ready to swoop on any operation that tries to get players or officials involved in their activities,” said de Silva, whose anti-corruption unit is working closely with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play