Dubai: Legendary Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya was Tuesday banned for two years after admitting to obstruct an anti-corruption probe by “destroying” the phones which were sought as evidence by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Jayasuriya admitted breaching the anti-corruption unit (ACU) code of the global body on two separate counts.
“As a result of the admissions, he has accepted a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility,” the ICC stated. However, he wasn’t given the maximum punishment of five years for his breach after the world body took his “previous good conduct” into account.
Jayasuriya’s sanction will be a backdated one starting from October 16, 2018. The left-handed batsman and orthodox spinner is a former Sri Lankan captain who was a key member of the 1996 World Cup-winning team before going on to serve two terms as the chairman of selectors.
The 49-year-old was adjudged ‘Player of the Tournament’ during Sri Lanka’s victorious 1996 World Cup campaign.
“It is unfortunate that even though I provided the ICC ACU with all the information as demanded by the officials the ICC ACU thought it fit to charge me under the Code although there were no allegations of corruption, betting or misuse of inside information,” Jayasuriya issued a statement after ICC imposed the sanctions.
Jayasuriya was questioned as part of the ICC’s investigation of wide scale corruption in Sri Lankan cricket.
Jayasuriya termed the decision as “unfortunate”, claiming that ICC has no evidence of “corruption, betting or misuse of inside information” against him.
Jayasuriya was questioned as part of the ICC’s investigation of wide scale corruption in Sri Lankan cricket and charged under articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of ICC’s code of conduct. (PTI)
