Sri Lanka’s former minister for sport, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, has alleged that the 2011 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and India was fixed.

The 2011 final was one of the closest in recent memory, with India chasing down 274 with 10 balls to spare. Aluthgamage, a current member of the Sri Lankan parliament and their sports minister at the time, now claims that while he is adamant the match was fixed, he will not divulge any details of the perpetrators “for the sake of” his country.

Speaking to News 1st, Aluthgamage said: “The 2011 World Cup final was fixed. I stand by what I say. It took place when I was the minister of sports. I state with responsibility; however I do not wish to expose details for the sake of the country. That game against India in 2011, a game which we could have won, was fixed.

“I state with responsibility and I can come forward for a debate. The people are concerned about it. I would not involve the cricketers in this. However, certain groups were definitely involved in fixing the game.”

Mahela Jayawardene, who scored an unbeaten century in the final, refuted Aluthgamage’s claim on Twitter, soon after the politician’s comments were made public.