Sri Lanka Cricket reacts to tabloid report on Dilshan

New Delhi:

Sri Lanka Cricket has noted with dismay the article in today's edition of The Island wherein Dilhara Fernando has been accused of being in the ICC Anti Corruption Unit's radar for the last two years.

The ICC Anti Corruption Unit has not brought such an issue to the attention of SLC and it is deemed unfair that such accusations are directed at our players without verifying the facts.

Sri Lanka Cricket is alarmed at the growing tendency of your newspaper to point fingers at its players without substantiation.

Please note that in May 2009 the ICC's Anti Corruption Unit travelled to Sri Lanka to interview Sri Lanka's cricketers with regard to the Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus.

During their visit to Sri Lanka, Dilhara Fernando voluntarily reported a suspicious approach to the team management and it was immediately referred to the ICC Anti Corruption Unit who in turned carried out a regulation interview with Dilhara.

The interviewing of players after the reporting of suspicious approaches is standard practice and the above-mentioned cricketer followed the correct protocol. The Anti Corruption Unit then followed their normal protocol and launched an investigation.

We can confirm that no further information has been provided to us with regard to this incident or player that necessitates any action or raises any concern.

We would like to add the SLC works closely with the ICC and the Anti Corruption Unit in the best interests of the game and the protection of our cricketers from corruption.

We would like to urge your esteemed newspaper that it is extremely important that our cricketers continue to report all suspicious approaches or events, as required by the ICC Code of Conduct, without the fear that such cooperation will lead to unsubstantiated allegations being made in the public domain, which in term will lead to enormous mental stress and might ultimately affect the performance of individuals as well as the team.

We would also like to emphasise that it is essential for our players' own safety that they can make such reports in a confidential manner to the relevant authorities.