Former India Under-19 World Cup-winning cricketer Manjot Kalra will remain in judicial custody after a Colombo court rejected his bail application in connection with the alleged Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 match-fixing investigation.
Kalra, who is also a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise, had sought bail along with fellow Indian national Yuvraj Pushpa after both were remanded until July 31 following their arrests earlier this month.
Court Cites Ongoing Investigation
According to reports, the defence requested bail on medical grounds, claiming both accused were unwell.
However, the prosecution opposed the plea, arguing that the investigation by the Sri Lanka Police’s Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports is still underway. Accepting the prosecution’s submission, the court refused to grant bail and ordered that both accused remain in custody until July 31.
Probe Expands as More Players Join Complaint
The investigation centres on allegations that players participating in LPL 2026 were approached with offers to manipulate matches.
Initially, Sri Lankan international cricketers Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, and Dunith Wellalage were among those who reported the alleged corruption attempts.
During the latest hearing, prosecutors informed the court that two more Sri Lankan cricketers have now joined the complaint, taking the total number of players involved in the case to five.
Investigators Claim Evidence Was Collected
Investigators told the court that the players reported the alleged approaches to the Sports Corruption Investigation Unit and, under official supervision, continued communicating with the suspects to assist the investigation.
Authorities have claimed they possess recorded telephone conversations and video evidence related to the alleged match-fixing attempts.
The defence, however, denied all allegations and maintained that there is no evidence proving Kalra offered any bribe to players.
Jaffna Kings Ownership Under Scrutiny
The controversy comes during the ongoing Lanka Premier League 2026, which runs from July 17 to August 8.
Amid the investigation, Innovative Production Group, the commercial rights holder of the league, terminated the franchise agreement with Sports Commune, the entity that owned the Jaffna Kings, citing financial obligations. The league, along with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), has since taken operational control of the franchise while allowing the team to continue participating in the tournament.
From World Cup Hero to Legal Battle
Manjot Kalra rose to national prominence after scoring an unbeaten century in the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup final against Australia, helping India lift the title.
His immediate future now depends on the outcome of the ongoing investigation, with the court directing that he remain in custody until July 31 while authorities continue their probe into the alleged corruption case.
