Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga who led his team to World Cup victory in 1996 has faulted the International Cricket Council (ICC) for turning a blind eye to corruption rampant in cricket in South Asia.

He drew attention to the 2011 World Cup, which Sri Lanka, despite being in a strong position to win, lost, and said the ICC ought to have investigated the game at the time amid rumours the game had been thrown.

In the wake of revelations by Al Jazeera that Sri Lanka was involved in ‘pitch fixing’, Ranatunga also raised suspicions about that an ODI played during the series with Zimbabwe last year may also have been tainted.

The politician said that if he was elected Sports Minister or ever became the President, the first thing he would do was to call for an investigation of the 2011 World Cup final which Sri Lanka lost under the captaincy of Kumar Sangakkara.

Ranatunga also let fly at incumbent President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Thilanga Sumathipala for his ties with betting establishment owned by his family – Sumathipala’s lawyers have insisted their client has no involvement with the family business.

He said he was disappointed with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) which has failed to investigate many matters relating to corruption in Sri Lanka and the sub-continent, including the links the SLC President has with betting establishments.