Sanath Jayasuriya insists that he has always “always conducted [himself] with integrity and transparency with matters concerning the sport”
Former Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya has defended himself after he was charged with two counts of violating the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code.
Jayasuriya, who used to be Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors, was charged with breaching Article 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of the code.
Article 2.4.6 relates to the failure or refusal, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU, including failure to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the ACU as part of such investigation.
As for Article 2.4.7, it relates to 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.
The charges against Jayasuriya are believed to be centered around Sri Lanka’s ODI series against Zimbabwe in 2017.
Zimbabwe won the series 3-2, but the ICC’s concerns supposedly revolve around the fourth ODI in Hambantota, where Zimbabwe triumphed by four wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, even though Sri Lanka scored 300/6 off their 50 overs.
It is understood that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) interviewed Jayasuriya on numerous occasions before the charges were handed down.
Furthermore, he was asked to hand over a phone, but failed to do so in a timely manner as it is understood that he didn’t want the ACU to see the personal photos and videos he had on the phone.
In response to the charges against him, Jayasuriya insisted that he “always conducted [himself] with integrity and transparency with matters concerning the sport”.
He added that the charges “do not contain any allegations pertaining to match fixing, pitch fixing or any other similar corrupt activity”.
In his press release, Jayasuriya said that he is “not in any position to release any comments at this moment” as he has 14 days from October 15 to respond to the charges.
“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 added.