Several Sri Lankan U19 cricketers were banned for match-fixing offences, sending shockwaves through youth cricket and raising alarm about the targeting of vulnerable young players by fixers.
In 2019, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit confirmed that several Sri Lankan U19 cricketers had been found guilty of match-fixing related offences and were handed bans from all cricket. The investigation revealed that the young players had been approached by corrupt individuals and had agreed to manipulate aspects of matches in exchange for relatively small sums of money.
The case was particularly disturbing because of the age of those involved. These were teenagers, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, who were targeted precisely because of their vulnerability. The fixers exploited the players' financial circumstances and their lack of awareness about anti-corruption protocols. The relatively small amounts of money involved — often just a few hundred dollars — underscored how easily young players could be lured into corruption.
Sri Lanka Cricket came under intense scrutiny for its failure to protect young players from corruptors. Questions were asked about the adequacy of anti-corruption education in the U19 setup and whether the board had done enough to create an environment where players felt comfortable reporting approaches. The SLC acknowledged shortcomings and pledged to enhance its anti-corruption programs.
The bans effectively ended the cricket careers of the young players involved before they had truly begun. The case became a cautionary tale used in anti-corruption education programs worldwide and strengthened the case for comprehensive protection measures for youth cricketers. The ICC subsequently made anti-corruption education mandatory for all participants in ICC youth events.
Multiple Sri Lankan U19 players received bans ranging from several years to life. Sri Lanka Cricket enhanced its anti-corruption education programs. The ICC made anti-corruption briefings mandatory at all youth events.
South Africa vs Various
7 April 2000
South African captain Hansie Cronje was found guilty of match fixing after Delhi Police intercepted phone calls between Cronje and an Indian bookmaker, Sanjay Chawla.
South Africa vs England
18 January 2000
Hansie Cronje engineered a contrived result at Centurion after rain had washed out most of the Test, later revealed to have been done at the behest of a bookmaker in exchange for a leather jacket and cash.
India vs Various
5 December 2000
Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin was banned for life by the BCCI after the CBI found evidence of his involvement in match fixing, based on revelations from the Hansie Cronje investigation.