Former India Under-19 cricketer Manjot Kalra has been arrested in Sri Lanka. He is accused of bribing a player during the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Kalra is a co-owner of the LPL team 'Jaffna Kings'. According to the police, the arrest was made just hours before the start of the tournament's sixth season.
The 27-year-old Kalra was taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Police's Special Investigation Unit, which probes sports-related crimes. He was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody until July 31. His associate, Yuvraj Pushpa, has also been arrested in connection with the case.
Action taken following complaints by Sri Lankan players
According to the Sri Lankan police, Kalra is accused of attempting to lure a player associated with the Lanka Premier League with a financial offer. Investigative agencies stated that the player in question had reported this alleged offer to the authorities about 10 days ago. It was informed in court that the complaint regarding this matter was lodged by Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, and two other players.
The arrest took place just as the opening match of the LPL 2026 between the Jaffna Kings and the Galle Gallants was scheduled to be played at the SSC Grounds in Colombo. This five-team tournament comprises 24 matches and will run until August 8. Earlier this year, another franchise owner had already been convicted on bribery charges. Taking cognizance of the incident, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated that it would fully cooperate with the investigation. The board also clarified that the tournament would proceed according to schedule.
Who is Manjot Kalra?
Manjot Kalra was the hero of India's title-winning campaign at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. He scored an unbeaten 101 runs in the final against Australia, played at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand. India chased down the target of 217 runs in 38.5 overs to win the Under-19 World Cup for the fourth time. Rahul Dravid was the coach and Prithvi Shaw the captain of that team, while Shubman Gill, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Ishan Porel were also part of the squad.
After a stellar performance in the Under-19 World Cup, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) signed him during the IPL 2018 auction. However, he did not get many opportunities. He also played first-class, List A, and T20 cricket for Delhi.
