India’s U19 World Cup-winning cricketer Manjot Kalra has been denied relief in Sri Lanka after an area court rejected his bail plea in the continued match-fixing case. Kalra, the co-owner of the Jaffna Kingsfranchise, was arrested earlier this month in reference to the investigation.
Kalra and fellow accused Yuvraj Pushpa, who were remanded in custody from July 17 to July 31, sought early bail before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. Their counsel, K.W.S. Fernando, requested bail on the grounds that each individuals were unwell.
Nonetheless, the prosecution opposed the plea, stating that the Sri Lanka Police Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Regarding Sports was still investigating the case. Accepting the prosecution’s argument, the magistrate dismissed the bail application and ordered that the remand proceed.
The corruption allegations were lodged by Sri Lanka internationals Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, and Dunith Wellalage. The court was also informed that two additional domestic cricketers have since come forward with similar complaints.
IPG, SLC End Sports Commune’s Jaffna Kings Deal
The 2026 Lanka Premier League, featuring five teams and 24 matches, is being played from July 17 to August 8. Meanwhile, Progressive Production Group, the league’s rights holder, together with Sri Lanka Cricket, terminated its franchise agreement with Sports Commune last week.
The choice ended Sports Commune’s ownership of the Jaffna Kings following Kalra’s arrest and the next collapse of the franchise’s financial structure. To make sure the franchise’s stability, IPGand Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have assumed control of all player, coaching, and support staff contracts.
Their intervention got here after Sports Commune’s financial crisis, which left the franchise unable to honour sponsorship commitments, forcing players to cover sponsor logos on their jerseys with black tape in the course of the July 22 match.
Following the takeover, emergency funds were released to clear nearly 90% of the outstanding salaries of players and support staff. IPG has also assured that the remaining payments can be made throughout the timelines laid out in the contracts.
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