Sri Lanka 2011 World Cup Final Fixing Allegations

The 2011 Cricket World Cup Final was played on 2 April 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai — one of the most emotionally charged sporting venues in India. Sri Lanka, captained by Kumar Sangakkara, won the toss and batted first on a pitch that was expected to assist batting. Mahela Jayawardene played a masterful innings of 103 not out, and Sri Lanka posted 274 for 6 — a competitive but chaseable total on that surface.

India's chase was tense. They lost early wickets including Sachin Tendulkar cheaply, but Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni (91 not out, including the iconic six to finish) took India to their second World Cup title. The country erupted in celebration. For Sri Lanka, it was a heartbreaking near-miss.

Allegations of fixing began circulating in Indian bookmaking circles almost immediately, centred on the claim that some Sri Lankan players had deliberately underperformed with the bat and ball. The allegations remained rumour until 2016, when former Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage made them public, transforming whispers into a formal controversy.

Aluthgamage's public allegation in 2016 — that certain Sri Lankan players had been paid to throw the final — came five years after the match and with no named individuals and no documentary evidence. He stated he had spoken to players but would not name them. His motive in making the allegation was itself questioned, with critics pointing out he was a politician seeking attention.

Sri Lanka Cricket set up an internal committee to investigate. The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit also opened an inquiry. Both bodies invited cooperation from anyone with information. The players who featured in the final — Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Dilshan, Malinga — all vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Several called the allegations a personal attack on their integrity.

The timing of the allegations, five years after the event and with no supporting evidence coming forward, led most independent observers to conclude they were politically motivated. The bookmaking community in India, which Aluthgamage cited as his source, was itself an unreliable source — bookmakers had obvious motives to spread rumours that could affect future markets.

In 2016, Sri Lanka's former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage publicly alleged that the 2011 Cricket World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka, held in Mumbai, had been fixed. The claim sent shockwaves through the cricket world, given that the match was one of the most-watched sporting events in history, with India winning their second World Cup on home soil.

Sri Lanka had been in a commanding position in the final, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring a brilliant century. However, their bowlers failed to defend the total as India, led by Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, chased down the target. Aluthgamage alleged that certain Sri Lankan players had deliberately underperformed.

Sri Lanka Cricket set up a committee to investigate the allegations, and the ICC also opened an inquiry. However, no evidence was found to substantiate the claims. Sri Lankan cricketers who played in the final, including Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, strongly denied the allegations and expressed their hurt at having their integrity questioned.

The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit investigation found no credible evidence that the match was fixed. Despite this, the allegations continued to circulate and caused considerable damage to the reputations of the players involved. The episode highlighted how match-fixing allegations, even when unsubstantiated, could tarnish the biggest moments in cricket history.

“I am deeply hurt. I gave everything I had on that day. Every player in that Sri Lanka team did. To say we fixed it is an insult to everything we stood for.”

“There is no credible evidence to support these allegations. Our investigation was thorough and we are satisfied that the match was not fixed.”

“I have sources in the betting community who told me. I stand by what I said.”

“It is one thing to make an allegation in public. It is another to provide evidence. None has been provided.”

Both the Sri Lanka Cricket committee and the ICC's ACU concluded their investigations without finding any evidence of fixing. The formal verdict was clear: the allegations were unsubstantiated. However, the damage to the reputations of players who had served Sri Lankan cricket with distinction for decades was real and lasting.

Jayawardene and Sangakkara, two of cricket's most respected figures globally, were particularly affected. They had both been public faces of fair play and sportsmanship throughout their careers. For them to face unproven fixing allegations at the end of distinguished careers was deeply unjust. Both spoke publicly about the pain caused by the allegations.