Sri Lanka, March 25 -- The Matale High Court has sentenced the Manager of the Kandy Samp Army franchise in the 2024 Legends League, Akash (Yogi) Patel, in absentia to four years of imprisonment for match-fixing.

Meanwhile, the accused was also fined Rs. 85 million and was ordered to pay Rs. 2 million to former Sri Lankan cricketer Upul Tharanga for defamation, Ada Derana reporter said.

Patel was charged with match-fixing, after Sri Lanka's chief selector and former cricketer Upul Tharanga filed a complaint that the Indian national had approached him to fix matches during the said tournament, played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Following a thorough inquiry and witness testimonies, the trial proceeded in absentia.

Pat...