Jayasuriya charged by ICC with hindering ACU probe
SRI LANKAN Sanath Jayasuriya has been charged with two breaches of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code.
Jayasuriya was the player of the tournament when Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup, the highlight of a stellar playing career that took in 110 Tests, 445 one-day internationals and 31 Twenty20s.
The 49-year-old former Sri Lanka Cricket chair of selectors has two weeks to respond to the charges, which relate to “failure or refusal” to co-operate with an investigation carried out by the anti-corruption unit.
He has also been charged 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 that may be relevant to that investigation”.
Jayasuriya, who served as Sri Lanka captain from 1999 to 2003, amassed 6,973 runs at an average of just over 40 in Tests, placing him behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in his country’s all-time list.
A tally of 13,430 runs in ODIs is only bettered by India’s Sachin Tendulkar, Sangakkara and Australia’s Ricky Ponting, while a haul of 323 wickets ensured his place as one of the format’s finest all-rounders. Jayasuriya’s international career spanned four decades – from 1989 to 2011.
As his playing career was winding down he entered politics and served on the Sri Lankan parliament from 2010 to 2015. He resigned as a member of the selection committee in August last year.
It is unknown which fixtures the charges relate to, or if anyone else is involved.
The matters under investigation are historical in nature and do not pertain to England’s tour, but it was reported that both sides would be met by Marshall’s team prior to the ODI series, which started last week, to highlight the ongoing problems.