Jayasuriya faces multiple corruption charges

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan batting great Sanath Jayasuriya has been charged with two counts of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anticorruption code, the world governing body said yesterday.

The former captain and explosive opening batsman has refused to cooperate with any investigation conducted by the ICC’s anticorruption unit (ACU), the ICC said in a statement.

The 49yearold has also been charged with trying to conceal, destroy or tamper with evidence that could be crucial to anticorruption investigations.

‘‘Mr Jayasuriya has 14 days from 15 October 2018 to respond to the charges. The ICC will not make any further comment in respect of these charges at this stage,’’ the ICC statement said.

Last year, the Jayasuriyaled selection panel resigned en masse following protests over Sri Lanka’s slump in form.

Jayasuriya played 110 tests, scoring 6973 runs with 14 hun dreds before his retirement in 2007, but it was in oneday cricket that he really made his name.

Forming a formidable opening partnership with Romesh Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya was a key member of Sri Lanka’s breakthrough 50over World Cup triumph in 1996.

Earlier this month, the ICC said the ACU was investigating corruption in Sri Lankan cricket and had given details to the country’s president, prime minister and sports minister.