Former India Under-19 cricketer and co-owner of Lankan Premier League (LPL) franchise Jaffna Kings Manjot Kalra has been arrested on corruption charges.
According to local media reports, Kalra, 27, is accused of inducing a player to engage in match-fixing. The Special Investigation Unit of the police took him into custody on Friday.
After his arrest, Kalra was produced before a magistrate who ordered him to be remanded in judicial custody till July 31, according to reports. Another Indian national named Yuvraj Pushpa was also arrested in this incident and the court ordered him to be sent to judicial custody.
Sri Lanka Cricket has clarified that the arrest will not affect the hosting of the 2026 Lankan Premier League.
In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket said that as the host of LPL 2026, they are fully committed to maintaining the integrity and credibility of the tournament. The board also said it will maintain a strict stance against “zero tolerance” or corruption, inappropriate behavior or any other form of misconduct by any party involved in the league.
The board said all necessary steps have been taken to conduct the tournament in accordance with the highest ethical and transparent standards. SLC’s anti-corruption unit is working closely with the government’s Special Investigation Unit to strengthen the league’s anti-corruption framework.
Sri Lanka Cricket also said it will continue to maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy against corruption and unethical activities and will take all necessary steps to protect the reputation of the tournament.
Manjot Kalra grabbed headlines with his century in the final of the 2018 ICC U-19 World Cup. His match-winning innings helped India clinch the title.
After taking a break from cricket, he focused on sports business and this year invested in and co-owned the Jaffna Kings franchise. His arrest has created a stir in the cricket world as LPL 2026 is underway.