KANDY – An anti-corruption court in Sri Lanka on Friday sentenced Prem Thakur, the Indian owner of Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Galle Marvels, to two years in prison for his involvement in match-fixing.
According to media reports, the court found Thakur guilty of attempting to fix matches during the 2024 season of the LPL. In addition to the prison sentence, he has been banned from all cricket-related activities for 10 years and ordered to pay a fine of 6 million Sri Lankan rupees.
The Kandy High Court also directed that Thakur’s mobile phone data be handed over to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit to assist in further investigations.
The authorities confirmed that the franchise owner will not be permitted to leave Sri Lanka until the fine and compensation amount is paid in full.
The case came to light earlier this year when the Attorney General informed the court that Prem Thakur had allegedly approached West Indian cricketer Andre Fletcher in December 2024, attempting to persuade him to engage in fixing a match involving Galle Marvels in the LPL.
The ruling marks one of the most high-profile convictions in the history of the tournament and underscores Sri Lanka’s growing efforts to combat corruption in cricket.
