Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne urged the government to beef up his security before he reveals information on the match-fixing issue.
Published: May 07, 2011, 11:29 AM (IST)
Edited: May 07, 2011, 11:29 AM (IST)
Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and 200 one-dayers during a 15-year career, said he had kept quiet for so many years as he feared for his life © Getty Images
Colombo: May 7, 2011
Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne urged the government to beef up his security before he reveals information on the match-fixing issue.
“As an eyewitness to match-fixing, I will reveal the names of those involved, if my security is guaranteed,” Tillakaratne told reporters after the CID interrogated him for the second time this week.
His wife Apsari said the family feared for their lives, as they have received several death threats warning against identifying those involved.
The former Pakistan captain claimed last week that Sri Lanka players had been fixing matches since 1992 and told reporters on Tuesday that he would reveal names to the ICC.
“I made the statements (about match-fixing) neither to get political mileage nor to put anyone in an awkward position,” he said on Tuesday.
“I made the comments in good faith and I will share the information with the ICC. The exercise was meant to protect the game and the players we all love so much.”
Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and 200 one-dayers during a 15-year career, said he had kept quiet for so many years as he feared for his life.
His allegations have raised a storm, with former skipper Kumar Sangakkara challenging him to prove his claims.
“It’s interesting to see what he has to say and if he has anything more than allegations,” said Sangakkara, who quit as captain after Sri Lanka’s defeat to India in the World Cup final. “It’s dangerous to throw names around.”
© PTI
