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India\u2019s U19 World Cup-winning cricketer <\/span>Manjot Kalra<\/span> 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 <\/span>Jaffna Kings<\/span>franchise, was arrested earlier this month in reference to the investigation.<\/span><\/p>\n Kalra and fellow accused <\/span>Yuvraj Pushpa<\/span>, who were remanded in custody from <\/span>July 17 to July 31<\/span>, sought early bail before <\/span>Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama<\/span>. Their counsel, <\/span>K.W.S. Fernando<\/span>, requested bail on the grounds that each individuals were unwell.<\/span><\/p>\n Nonetheless, the prosecution opposed the plea, stating that the <\/span>Sri Lanka Police Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Regarding Sports<\/span> was still investigating the case. Accepting the prosecution\u2019s argument, the magistrate dismissed the bail application and ordered that the remand proceed.<\/span><\/p>\n The corruption allegations were lodged by Sri Lanka internationals <\/span>Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, and Dunith Wellalage<\/span>. The court was also informed that two additional domestic cricketers have since come forward with similar complaints.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>2026 Lanka Premier League<\/span>, featuring <\/span>five teams<\/span> and <\/span>24 matches<\/span>, is being played from <\/span>July 17 to August 8<\/span>. Meanwhile, <\/span>Progressive Production Group<\/span>, the league\u2019s rights holder, together with <\/span>Sri Lanka Cricket<\/span>, terminated its franchise agreement with <\/span>Sports Commune<\/span> last week.<\/span><\/p>\n The choice ended <\/span>Sports Commune\u2019s ownership of the Jaffna Kings<\/span> following Kalra\u2019s arrest and the next collapse of the franchise\u2019s financial structure. To make sure the franchise\u2019s stability, <\/span>IPG<\/span>and <\/span>Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)<\/span> have assumed control of all player, coaching, and support staff contracts. <\/span><\/p>\n Their intervention got here after Sports Commune\u2019s 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 <\/span>July 22<\/span> match.<\/span><\/p>\n Following the takeover, emergency funds were released to clear nearly <\/span>90%<\/span> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n Get the newest cricket news here, like us on Facebook<\/a>, and follow us on Twitter<\/a> and Instagram <\/a> for more such updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nIPG, SLC End Sports Commune\u2019s Jaffna Kings Deal<\/span><\/h3>\n
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