Sri Lanka arrests T20 team co-owner Manjot Kalra over match-fixing
Manjot Kalra, co-owner of the Jaffna Kings cricket team, was arrested in Colombo for allegedly attempting to bribe players ahead of the Lanka Premier League. Sri Lanka Cricket has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the tournament despite the corruption scandal.
Why it matters
The arrest underscores the ongoing struggle against match-fixing in professional sports and the impact of strict anti-corruption laws in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka police arrested the former Indian Cricketer and co-owner of a Lanka Premier League (LPL) team, Jaffna Kings, on Friday (July 17, 2026), hours before the tournament was due to begin, on suspicion of trying to bribe players.
The suspect, identified as Manjot Kalra, was arrested at a hotel in Colombo as he was allegedly "about to pay" a player ₹9.5 million ($28,700), Inspector Supun Vidanage of the Sports Investigation Unit said. He said Mr. Kalra would be produced before a magistrate soon.
The player had alerted police when he was first approached about 10 days earlier, Mr. Vidanage said, without naming him. Two other players had also been approached.
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