Sri Lanka cricketers cleared of charges

A Sri Lankan cricket board official has said that an enquiry ordered by the board has cleared former test captain Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Arvind De Silva of allegations of match fixing.

The allegations against the two cricketers were initially made in a report by India's Central Bureau of Investigations, which was investigating a match fixing scandal that originated in India.

Following that report, the Sri Lankan cricket board appointed a lawyer, Desmond Fernando, who conducted his own eight-month investigation before dismissing the charges.

He said the evidence against the two was insufficient and untested.

Arjuna Ranatunga has always denied the charges.

Arvind De Silva has said that he was approached by bookmakers, but maintains he didn't take bribes.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service