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Sangakkara under scanner for no-ball controversy?

August 18, 2010 10:23 IST

Kumar SangakkaraSri Lankan cricket board was examining stump microphone audios to determine whether captain Kumar Sangakkara or any of his team-mates had played a role in coaxing Suraj Randiv to bowl a 'no-ball' to prevent Virender Sehwag from scoring a century.

Sources said that SLC had sought the tapes from the official broadcasters to investigate as what transpired between the bowler and his teammates during the fag end of the tri-series match.

Sehwag was just one short of his 13th ODI hundred when Randiv, who had not bowled a no ball in the Test or ODI series this season, bowled one which was hit by the opener for a six.

However, it did not count because the no ball amounted to India's winning run leaving Sehwag on an unbeaten 99.

According to audiotapes, captain Sangakkara was heard instructing Randiv in Sinhalese "If he hits the ball, he gets the run."

Although it appeared to be an innocuous comment, some TV channels were interpreting it as an attempt to influence the young bowler to overstep the line and deny Sehwag what could have been his 13th ODI century.

Sangakkara has, however, maintained that he had only asked Randiv to keep the ball tight and not allow Sehwag score a run.

According to a SLC source, the report of the manager, who has been asked to initiate an inquiry into the incident, would be submitted to the board.

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