Manjot Kalra Held in Sri Lanka: Former India Under-19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra was arrested in Sri Lanka, over allegations that he tried to bribe a player, connected to the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL). The arrest was carried out by Sri Lanka’s sports anti- corruption authorities, just before the tournament, which is being seen as a major turn in the country’s on-going push to rein in corruption across cricket.
Manjot Kalra Held in Sri Lanka
According to reports from news agency PTI and Sri Lankan investigators, Kalra is accused of attempting to influence the outcome of an LPL match by offering a player 9.5 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately ₹27 lakh). Authorities allege the approach was made before the start of the 2026 Lanka Premier League season.
Breaking- Manjot Kalra, a former India Under-19 World Cup-winning cricketer and co-owner of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Jaffna Kings, has been arrested by Sri Lanka Police over an alleged match-fixing approach made to a player. #LPL06 pic.twitter.com/ao4DKMJjr4
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) July 17, 2026
The arrest reportedly took place on Thursday night, just hours before the opening match of the tournament. Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption laws governing sports allow investigators to take strict action against suspected attempts to manipulate matches.
Kalra rose to prominence after playing a key role in India’s victorious campaign at the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The opener slammed an unbeaten ton in the final against Australia and guided India to the title under Prithvi Shaw’s captaincy, where Shubman Gill was another notable teammate.
After his youth heroics, Kalra played for Delhi in the domestic circuit and was part of the Delhi Capitals setup in the Indian Premier League, before his professional career was marred by controversy around age-verification matters in domestic cricket.
What Investigators Have Alleged?
Investigators claimed Kalra tried to convince a player to change the result of an LPL match with a lucrative cash incentive. However, the claims are still under investigation and the authorities are yet to confirm a conviction or guilt of any party in this matter, which is bound to go through Sri Lankan legal procedures. Sri Lanka has recently enhanced its anti-corruption infrastructure, allowing law enforcement officials greater latitude in prosecuting match-fixing, fixing offers and bribery within professional cricket.
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What Happens Next?
Sri Lankan authorities are set to grill others related to the case as investigations proceed to build a strong case. It is unclear if other individuals will be taken into custody or charged in connection with this issue. During this investigation process, Kalra continues to be innocent unless convicted of his wrongdoing.
In a statement, the SLC stated that “Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken note of the media reports relating to the reported arrest of the owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports.”
“Sri Lanka Cricket, together with the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, will extend its fullest cooperation to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports should any assistance be sought in connection with any inquiry arising from the matter.”
