Former India Under-19 cricketer Manjot Kalra, who rose to prominence after his century in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup final, was arrested in Sri Lanka on Friday over allegations of attempting to bribe players during the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Kalra, now a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise, was taken into custody by the Police Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports just hours before the opening match of the tournament.
Kalra, 27, had transitioned from professional cricket to sports entrepreneurship in recent years and became part of the Jaffna Kings ownership group ahead of the 2026 season. Sri Lankan investigators allege that he attempted to induce players with money in connection with the tournament after approaching them nearly 10 days earlier. The complaint was reportedly lodged by Sri Lankan internationals Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando and Dunith Wellalage, all of whom are part of the Jaffna Kings squad.
According to Sri Lankan police, Kalra was arrested at a hotel in Colombo while allegedly preparing to hand over 9.5 million Sri Lankan rupees (around USD 28,700) to a player. Authorities said the player had alerted investigators soon after the initial approach, triggering an inquiry that culminated in Friday’s arrest. Kalra was later produced before a magistrate.
LPL’s CORRUPTION RETURNS TO SPOTLIGHT
The arrest has cast a shadow over the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League, which got underway on Friday with Jaffna Kings facing Galle Gallants at the SSC Grounds in Colombo. The five-team competition, featuring 24 matches, is scheduled to conclude on August 8.
For the LPL, the latest controversy is an unwelcome reminder of the corruption allegations that have repeatedly surfaced around the tournament. Earlier this year, Dambulla Thunders owner Tamim Rahman received a four-year suspended prison sentence after admitting to attempting to influence a player and organise betting activities. He was also fined 24 million Sri Lankan rupees under Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption laws.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) acknowledged Kalra’s arrest in an official statement, reiterating its “zero-tolerance” stance towards corruption and unethical practices. The board said it would fully cooperate with investigators if required and confirmed that the tournament would continue as scheduled without disruption.
Kalra remains best known to Indian fans for his unbeaten 101 in the final of the 2018 Under-19 World Cup against Australia, an innings that helped India lift the title under Prithvi Shaw’s captaincy. Eight years later, however, the former opening batter finds himself at the centre of one of the biggest controversies in the history of the Lanka Premier League.
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