Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will kick off as planned at the SSC Grounds in Colombo, despite the arrest of Jaffna Kings co-owner and former India U19 player Manjot Kalra on suspicion of match-fixing. Kalra, known for his century in India’s 2018 U19 World Cup final win, was apprehended by the Sri Lanka Police’s Special Investigations Unit.
Inspector Supun Vidanage of the SIU revealed that Kalra was caught at a Colombo hotel while allegedly preparing to pay a player 9.5 million rupees (USD 28,700). The police were alerted by the player, who had been approached by Kalra about 10 days earlier. Kalra is set to appear before a magistrate soon for further proceedings.
In response to the incident, Sri Lanka Cricket stated that the LPL would proceed without disruption and assured full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The cricket board emphasized its commitment to maintaining the tournament’s integrity and vowed to combat any corruption or misconduct associated with the league.
SLC’s Anti-Corruption Unit has been collaborating with the Special Investigations Unit to enhance the league’s anti-corruption framework. Additionally, Integrity Mentors have been engaged to provide specialized integrity support and education throughout the tournament, ensuring a fair and transparent competition.
IPG, the tournament’s commercial rights holder, affirmed that all team owners had passed initial background checks conducted with the ICC. The company reiterated its support for the investigation and emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or unethical behavior that could compromise the tournament’s integrity.
Kalra, a member of India’s triumphant 2018 U19 World Cup squad, joined Jaffna as a co-owner for the 2026 LPL season. Despite the recent events, IPG reassured stakeholders that LPL 2026 would proceed as scheduled, maintaining a commitment to governance and sporting integrity. The company pledged to work closely with authorities to uphold robust integrity measures throughout the competition.
