07 September,2010 08:44 AM IST | | Bipin Dani
Former Sri Lanka Cricket Board chairman, Thilanga Sumathipala admitted that his father, UW Sumathipala was a bookmaker and not him as alleged in some sections of the media yesterday.
Speaking from Colombo, he said: "I have already admitted this fact in the past and the ICC is aware about it."
Sumathipala also insisted that bookmakers are not match-fixers and matches are being fixed through other channels.
Sumathipala dismissed reports of his residence and offices being monitored secretly by the ICC. "If you want, you can check with the ICC. I am not under any kind of observation," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Sumathipala also rubbished reports that he had a role to play in Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi's meeting with Sri Lanka Cricket Board president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"I have never arranged a meeting between (Lalit) Modi and the president (Rajapaksa). In fact, I am not even aware if they met. All the committee members and players wanted to participate in the IPL except Arjuna Ranatunga.
"He was jealous of young players earning bags of money through the IPL and was objecting," Sumathipala said.
Sumathipala also insisted that the former Sri Lanka skipper Ranatunga wanted a "favour" from the BCCI for allowing Sri Lankan players to participate in IPL.
Sumathipala is now contemplating legal action. "I will consult my legal expert and will not hesitate to take action against Ranatunga or newspaper/s if my image is tarnished," Sumathipala concluded.
The writer is a freelancer
