ICC Charges Sanath Jayasuriya; Sri Lanka Cricket Crisis Worsens

Sri Lankan cricket is struggling though their worst patch this century—they lie 6th, 8th and 9th in Tests, ODIs and T20I respectively. In this context the news surrounding former captain and World Cup winner, Sanath Jayasuriya is come as another major blow.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Monday, charged former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya with two counts of breaching the ICC anti-corruption code. The charges relate to failure or refusal to cooperate with an ACU investigation and obstructing or delaying an investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information which may be relevant, a statement said.

The charges have been laid following more than a year of the ACU focus on Sri Lanka's 2017 ODI series against Zimbabwe. The hard fought series was eventually won by Zimbabwe 3-2. The ACU investigation focusses specifically on the fourth ODI which Zimbabwe eventually won on the basis of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method despite Sri Lanka setting a 301-run target.

Jayasuriya, a former Sri Lanka captain, was chairman of selectors until he and his committee resigned in September 2017, following widespread criticism of the its performance. He was previously chief selector for a two-year stint from early 2013 to the end of the 2015 World Cup.

The charges relate to alleged incidents that occurred during the second of those stints. According to various reports it is understood that the ACU had asked Jayasuriya to hand over a phone in his use at some time last year, and that Jayasuriya had not immediately complied. 

In a response released to the press Jayasuriya said that he had, “conducted myself with integrity and transparency with matters concerning the sport and I will continue to do so.” The statement also pointed out that the charges do not contain any allegations pertaining to match fixing, pitch fixing or any other similar corrupt activity and were strictly regarding non-cooperation with the ACU.

In his release, Jayasuriya also stated that he is “not in any position to release any comments at this moment” as he is first required to to submit his response to the ACU within 14 days from October 15. “I am under strict legal advice that no comment is to be made in respect of the charges as such a course would offend the ICC rules,” the statement said.

(With inputs from IANS)