Sri Lanka’s Independent Television Network in damage control mode
Sri Lanka’s state owned Independent Television Network is in damage control mode just a day after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 Cricket rejected all claims made by the Network regarding the involvement of two national players in spot-fixing.
The channel which received criticism from the country’s cricketing body has now decided to control the matter before it gets out of control. ITN clarified that the script of the controversial show based on the match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was written
by an experienced journalist Mahinda Abeysundara to point out that the defeat was a good lesson for their next victory.
The statement further said, “But certain groups were engaged in an untiring effort to put the great cricketers Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera into difficulty by interpreting certain sentences which were included in this particular programme.”
The Network clarified that it had no ill will towards the two players and the comments made in the TV show were totally taken out of context. It was reiterated that the channel would keep supporting the Sri Lankan players and would not turn its back on them
at any level.
“ITN wishes to request all groups not to leave room for such a situation to develop. ITN also wishes to underline that as in the past it always remains with the cricketing heroes at present. Its prime anticipation is to see that the Sri Lankan cricketers
win the World Cup and do proud to their country,” the statement stressed.
Earlier the Network made headlines when a Sinhala language programme called ‘Wimasuma’, accused Jayawardene and Samaraweera of losing their wickets on purpose in order to affect the outcome of the match against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.
Jayawardene was clean bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s 277.
These claims irked Sri Lanka Cricket and the cricket governing body of the country reacted strongly at the claims of the ITN. The SLC clarified that the allegations made by Abeysundara were baseless and vowed to take up the matter with the relevant authorities
of the Network. Cricket’s governing body in Sri Lanka also reiterated that this fiasco had caused great discomfort to the two cricketers because the services for their country had been questioned.
Speaking on Jayawardene, the SLC insisted that there was no way that he could ever be involved in spot-fixing and they had full confidence in the honesty of the veteran middle order batsman, who has always shown loyalty to his country while playing in national
colours.
Reports have also revealed that the two players are considering taking legal action against the channel for defaming them.
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