Sri Lanka Police Arrest Former Indian Cricketer Over Alleged Bribery Plot Ahead of LPL Tournament Sri Lankan authorities arrested Manjot Kalra, a former Indian cricketer and co-owner of the Jaffna Kings team in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), on Friday (July 17, 2026), hours before the tournament was set to commence. The arrest occurred at a hotel in Colombo, where Kalra was allegedly attempting to pay a player ₹9.5 million ($28,700) in what police described as an attempt to bribe athletes. Inspector Supun Vidanage of the Sports Investigation Unit confirmed the arrest, stating that Kalra would be presented before a magistrate shortly. The incident came to light after a player alerted police approximately 10 days prior to the alleged transaction. Vidanage noted that the player had initially approached authorities about the bribe offer, though he did not disclose the player’s identity. Additional reports indicated that two other players had also been approached by Kalra, though details about their involvement remain unspecified. The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to addressing corruption within sports. Despite the arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket, the governing body of the sport in the country, confirmed that the domestic T20 tournament would proceed as scheduled on Friday night in Colombo. The opening match of the sixth edition of the LPL was set to feature the Jaffna Kings against the Galle Gladiators. In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket reaffirmed its dedication to upholding the integrity of the tournament, stating it would not tolerate any form of corruption, misconduct, or foul play by stakeholders. The board’s declaration underscores its efforts to maintain the league’s reputation amid ongoing scrutiny.#sri_lanka_cricket #lanka_preminier_league #manjot_kalra #jaffna_kings #sri_lanka_police
