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Xtra Time Web Desk: Former Sri Lankan spinner Sachithra Senanayake was arrested by Sri Lanka Police on September 6, 2023, in connection with match-fixing allegations. Senanayake surrendered to the Sports Corruption Investigation Unit after previously being banned from traveling abroad by a court. This arrest marked the first instance of action taken under the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act, introduced in 2019 to combat corruption in sports. The charges are related to the 2020 edition of the Lanka Premier League, where Senanayake, although not participating in the tournament, was accused of luring two players into fixing games.

The special investigation unit of the Sports Ministry is preparing to file criminal charges against Senanayake, who is scheduled to appear in court. Sachithra Senanayake, aged 38, represented Sri Lanka in 49 ODIs, 24 T20Is, and one Test match between 2012 and 2016. His international career was marred by issues with his bowling action, resulting in an ICC ban in 2014. Despite being a part of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2014 and having played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Senanayake's return to international cricket in 2015 with a modified action was less effective, and he made his last international appearance in a T20I against Australia in September 2016.