Team owner of Galle Marvels in Lanka T10 arrested on match-fixing charges: Reports

As per reports, Prem Thakkur, the owner of the Galle Marvels, a team in the Lanka T10 Super League, has been arrested following alleged match-fixing charges. The tournament kick-started on Wednesday, December 11, and Thakkur was arrested the very next day on Thursday, December 12.

On Friday, December 13, Thakkur was produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. The Galle Marvels owner has been remanded till December 16. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Sri Lanka Police stated that Prem Thakkur, who is an Indian national, had been arrested by the Sports Police Unit of Sri Lanka under the 2019 Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act.

The Galle Marvels owner was arrested at a hotel in Kandy. As per reports, an overseas player flagged a fixing approach made by Thakkur. Earlier this year in the Lanka Premier League, an ICC anti-corruption representative was present. Similarly, a representative of the ICC anti-corruption unit is present in Sri Lanka to oversee the Lanka T10 Super League upon the request made by the Sri Lankan cricket board.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has not opened up on the matter yet. However, Samantha Dodanwela, the director of the Lanka 10 Super League, confirmed that the tournament will go on as per schedule. This is not the first instance of a franchise team owner being arrested in a tournament in Sri Lanka this year.

Earlier, Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Dambulla Thunders' co-owner Tamim Rahman was also arrested after being accused of match-fixing.

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Galle Marvels' performance in Lanka T10 Super League so far

After the completion of the seventh match of the Lanka T10 Super League, the Galle Marvels are at the top of the table with four points from three matches. They are unbeaten in the tournament so far.

They began their campaign with a seven-wicket win over the Kandy Bolts. Their next two games against the Hambantota Bangla Tigers and the Nuwara Eliya Kings were both washed out due to rain.

Their next fixture in the tournament is against the Jaffna Titans on Saturday, December 14, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.