Sri Lankan T20 League Owner, Tamim Rahman, Admits to Match-Fixing Inducement Charges

Colombo, Sri Lanka — Tamim Rahman, the owner of the Dambulla Thunder franchise in Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket league, has confessed to inducing a player to engage in match-fixing during the 2022 Lanka Premier League (LPL) tournament.

Rahman, a British-Bangladeshi citizen, was presented in Colombo High Court before Judge Udesh Ranatunga on Wednesday. The charge sheet against Rahman, submitted by the Attorney General’s Department, was officially handed to the accused.

The judge granted Rahman bail, ordering him to pay 200,000 Sri Lankan rupees in cash and a further guarantee of 10 million rupees through two sureties.

Court Proceedings and Rahman’s Admission

Tamim Rahman’s lawyer, Kalinga Indathisa, informed the court that his client had been arrested and remanded initially on charges related to the alleged match-fixing conspiracy. However, he was later granted bail. Indathisa also stated that despite being a Bangladeshi national, Rahman holds British citizenship and has been residing in Sri Lanka for over a year due to the ongoing legal case, which has adversely affected both his personal and business life.

The lawyer revealed that Rahman had admitted his involvement in the match-fixing plot and expressed his desire to settle the matter quickly. He had submitted both written and oral explanations to the Attorney General.

In response, the state prosecutor requested additional time to clarify its position regarding the evidence provided by the defence.

The Match-Fixing Allegations

Tamim Rahman is accused of being involved in a large-scale match-fixing conspiracy during the 2022 LPL. Investigations revealed that Rahman exploited his position as the owner of the Dambulla Thunder to manipulate match outcomes, using players of his choice to influence results.

State prosecutor Udara Karunathilake informed the court that Rahman had brought a sum of one million US dollars with him when he arrived in Sri Lanka.

He also mentioned that investigations are ongoing under Sections 5 and 6 of the Prevention of Corruption in Sports Act. The prosecutor requested Rahman be remanded in custody due to incomplete investigations, with more witness statements pending.

Ownership of Dambulla Thunder Franchise

In the 2023 LPL, Dambulla Thunder was owned by Viranjith Thambugala, the chairman of Ora Lanka Limited. However, Thambugala stepped down from the ownership in 2024.

Subsequently, the franchise was taken over by Imperial Sports Group, co-owned by Tamim Rahman and Golam Rakib, both of whom are Bangladeshi nationals. Rahman holds British citizenship as well.

Rahman participated in the player auction for Dambulla Thunder in the 2024 LPL, but shortly after his arrest, the LPL authorities annulled the Thunder’s contracts with five of the league’s participating teams.

Legal Background and Prior Arrest

Tamim Rahman was arrested under the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act of 2019, which specifically addresses corruption in sports. He was detained at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport before boarding a flight, according to Sri Lankan police.

The Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act was enacted with the involvement of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit, which played a role in the development of the law.

As investigations continue, the cricketing world remains on edge, awaiting further updates on this high-profile case that has cast a shadow over the integrity of the sport in Sri Lanka.