SLC refute SJB MP’s claims in Parliament

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said refuted what it called “false, derogatory and malicious allegations” made by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha in Parliament yesterday regarding the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. 
The tournament was to be hosted by Sri Lanka, and despite SLC’s best efforts to keep the tournament in Sri Lanka, member countries of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) unanimously agreed that the tournament should be moved out in the backdrop of the ongoing economic crises. 

In response SLC said: “...it should be noted that the Asian Cricket Council having closely monitored the situation and developments in Sri Lanka during the last few months (both economic and social) after much deliberation on the 24th of July at a meeting held among member states decided to play the matches of the 2022 Asia Cup in UAE instead of Sri Lanka, whilst keeping the hosting opportunity and rights to SLC,” SLC said in a statement. 
“It should be further noted that no independent report or research has ever revealed nor confirmed that the country has ever received a staggering amount of USD 50 million from hosting an event in Sri Lanka as claimed by Mr. Bandara MP and SLC considers such comments are instigated by few individuals with vested interests to destabilize Sri Lanka Cricket to achieve their personal goals,” SLC further added. 

The SJB MP had alleged that there was financial fraud behind the shift of the Asia Cup from Sri Lanka to the UAE. 
“Officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had shifted the venue of the Asia Cup by hoodwinking cricket officials of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and  Afghanistan,” he alleged. 

“They claim countries such as India and  Pakistan had refused to play in Sri Lanka. This is a blatant lie as no participating nation had refused to play in Sri Lanka,” he further suggested. 

“SLC has claimed that it will get dollars 6 million as fees for hosting the tournament. However Sri Lanka could have earned a  sum of dollars 50 million if the Asia cup was held in Sri Lanka,” he also alleged.