Indian national Akash Pachlodia has been sentenced to two 02-year sentences of rigorous imprisonment suspended for 10 years over allegations of match-fixing during the 2024 Legends Cricket Trophy played in Sri Lanka.
Issuing the sentence today, the Kandy High Court also imposed a fine of Rs.11 million, after Akash Pachlodia pleaded guilty to attempted match-fixing during the tournament.
Akash Pachlodia was the Team Manager of the side Punjab Royal in the 2024 Legends Cricket Trophy that was played in Pallekele in March 2024.
An investigation was launched after a retired Sri Lankan cricketer and a New Zealand cricketer had alleged that Indian cricket manager Yoni Patel and his assistant Akash Pachlodia had approached them to fix matches during the Legends Cricket Tournament.
Yoni Patel, the owner of the Kandy Samp Army team, was initially indicted on charges of match-fixing during the cricket tournament held in Kandy.
Sri Lanka is the first South Asian nation to criminalize several offences related to match-fixing, while this is the first case to be heard under the new regulations.
Offenders could face up to 10 years in jail and fines of up to $555,000 for match-fixing under laws introduced by then Sports Minister Harin Fernando in 2019. (Newswire)