Sanath Jayasuriya handed 2 years ban for breaching ICC's Anti-Corruption Code

Former Sri Lanka player Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all forms of cricket for a period of 2 years after he admitted to breaching two counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, the world cricket governing body said on Tuesday (26 February).

According to a statement released by International Cricket Council (ICC), the former left-hander admitted to have breached the code of conduct on two occasions:

Article 2.4.6 - Failure or refusal, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU, including failure to provide accurate and complete any information and/or documentation requested by the ACU as part of such investigation.

Article 2.4.7 - 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 and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.

BREAKING: Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after admitting breaching two counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.https://t.co/6VdTP6I2jL

— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2019

ICC’s General Manager Alex Marshall said, “This conviction under the Code demonstrates the importance of participants in cricket cooperating 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.”

Jayasuriya’s conviction is the latest part of the ICC ACU investigation into corruption in cricket in Sri Lanka. In relation to Sri Lankan Cricket, the ACU recently held an amnesty resulting in eleven players and other participants coming forward with new information.

Marshall added: “The amnesty has worked very well and has delivered significant new and important intelligence. This new information has assisted a number of our ongoing investigations and has resulted in some new investigations getting underway.

“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.”