Dambulla Thunders removed from LPL due involvement of owner in match fixing
The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has ousted the Dambulla Thunders franchise following the arrest of its owner, Tamim Rahman, in Colombo on Wednesday. Rahman’s arrest is connected to allegations of corruption under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act (2019). The termination of the Dambulla Thunders’ participation is effective immediately.
A British citizen of Bangladeshi descent, Rahman, was arrested in Colombo before boarding a flight. The law he was arrested under was developed with the help of the anti-corruption unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket has said the charges against Rahman haven’t been specified and that the termination aims to uphold the values and reputation of the LPL, ensuring that all participants adhere to the highest standards of conduct and sportsmanship.
Also Read: Sri Lanka’s Legend Cricket League’s team manager has been indicted for match-fixing.
The LPL management is working hard to address and counter the consequences of this termination and is ensuring the upcoming season goes smoothly.
This development leaves one of the Sri Lankan cricket league’s teams, the Thunders, without an owner. The Thunders were one of two new franchises introduced this year under new ownership, alongside the Galle Marvels. It’s understood that Imperial Sports Group believed to be founded by Rahman, previously owned the Thunders.
The other franchise shakeup involved the Galle team. Previously known as the Gladiators, they’re now called the Galle Marvels.
The recent LPL auction, held just a day before these developments, saw Thunders retain many players from their previous incarnation as Dambulla Aura. They also bolstered their squad with the Afghan duo of Karim Janat and Hazratullah Zazai. Notably, Janat fetched the highest bid among the new overseas signings at US$80,000. This news adds another layer of complexity to the Thunders’ situation, considering the recent arrest and their ownership uncertainty.
The Thunders’ roster also boasts established international players like Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan), and Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan). They’re further bolstered by Sri Lankan internationals Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Akila Dananjaya, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Nuwan Pradeep, alongside others.
The future of the Dambulla franchise, and potentially the entire league, hangs in the balance. Filling the ownership void is crucial, especially considering the Dambulla team has seen three ownership changes since the league’s inception in 2020. The team, then known as Dambulla Aura, even achieved a runner-up finish last year. However, those owners are also facing financial fraud accusations, adding another layer of uncertainty.
In a bid to combat corruption, Sri Lanka took a strong stance in November 2019. Their parliament passed a bill titled “Prevention of Offences Related to Sports,” making them the first South Asian nation to criminalize various match-fixing offenses.
