Hours before the much-awaited opening match of 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL)The cricket world was hit by a massive corruption scandal. Manjot KalraFormer India U-19 World Cup hero and current co-owner Jaffna Kings The franchise was arrested by Sri Lankan authorities on Friday following serious allegations of match-fixing and attempted bribery.
The arrest was made in a five-star hotel in Colombo Special Investigation Unit (SIU) For prevention of sports related crimes. According to SIU Inspector Supun VidanejKalra was detained when he was allegedly preparing to pay 9.5 million Sri Lankan rupees (about $28,700) to a player to influence an upcoming match. Following the arrest, Kalra was produced before a magistrate and sent to judicial custody till July 31, 2026.
Sri Lanka Cricket has reacted to the arrest of star Manjot Kalra in the alleged Lanka Premier League match fixing case.
In view of the shocking developments, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Swift action was taken to address the situation and reassure fans about the integrity of the tournament. The apex governing body issued an official press release acknowledging the arrest of the Jaffna Kings co-owner and reaffirming its full alignment with law enforcement.
“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken note of media reports regarding the alleged arrest of the Jaffna Kings franchise owner by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for the prevention of sports-related crimes.“The official statement read.
The Board stressed that it will provide unconditional support to the ongoing investigation. “Sri Lanka Cricket, along with the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, will extend its full cooperation to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU)… Any assistance should be sought in relation to any investigation arising from the matter“The statement said.
Further, the Board reiterated that “Unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the tournament,It has been warned that any form of corruption, misconduct or dishonesty by any league stakeholder will not be tolerated.
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Strict anti-corruption laws tested
This high-profile arrest highlights the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s stringent legal framework. In 2019, the country became the first South Asian country to criminalize failure to report match-fixing and corrupt practices. Investigation reports indicate that the unnamed player who was originally contacted by Kalra acted strictly as per protocol, alerting the authorities about ten days before the sting operation.
This incident is not an isolated incident for the tournament. Earlier this year, the British owner of Dambulla Thunders franchise, tamim rahmanHe received a four-year suspended prison sentence and a heavy fine under the same anti-corruption law after admitting to illegal betting and player inducement.
Despite the ongoing legal drama surrounding Jaffna Kings management, SLC confirmed that the LPL 2026 season will go ahead exactly as scheduled. The board concluded its statement by promising a “zero-tolerance approach” to ensure the league is conducted with utmost dignity and transparency.
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