Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket-related activities for two years after admitting to two breaches of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code.
Jayasuriya was questioned as part of the ICC’s investigation of wide scale corruption in Sri Lankan cricket.
“As a result of the admissions, he has accepted a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility,” the ICC stated.
In a 20 year long cricketing career, Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka in 110 Tests, 445 ODIs and 31 T20Is and was part of the Sri Lanka team that won the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup.
According to the ICC’s press statement, Jayasuriya, also the former chairman of selectors of Sri Lankan cricket, has admitted to breaching two ICC provisions.
The Article 2.4.6 of ICC Code of Conduct deals with “failure or refusal, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU.”
The Article 2.4.7 deals with “obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information…”
Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager ACU said: “This conviction under the Code demonstrates the importance of participants in cricket co-operating with investigations. Compelling participants to cooperate under the Code is a vital weapon in our efforts to rid our sport of corruptors. These rules are essential to maintain the integrity of our sport.
The ACU recently gave an amnesty in relation to Sri Lanka Cricket resulting in 11 players and other participants coming forward with new information.
“The amnesty has worked very well and has delivered significant new and important intelligence,” Marshall said.
“I am very grateful to those who participated in the amnesty and as a result of the information shared we now have a much clearer picture of the situation in Sri Lanka and our investigations are continuing.”
