Colombo: Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after he admitted to breaching two counts of the International Cricket Council's (ICC's) anti-corruption code.Jayasuriya has admitted failing to co-operate with an investigation and concealing, tampering with or destroying evidence.
He has also accepted a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility, according to the ICC's official website.
"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'', said Alex Marshall, general manager of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption unit.
"Compelling participants to co-operate 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'', he added.
The conviction of Mr Jayasuriya is the latest part of a much broader ICC ACU investigation into corruption in cricket in Sri Lanka. The ACU recently held an amnesty in relation to Sri Lankan Cricket resulting in eleven players and other participants coming forward with new information.
Jayasuriya was player of the tournament when Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 and he scored 21 centuries and took 323 wickets in 445 one-day internationals.He averaged 40.07 runs in 110 Test matches.
The former government minister retired from international cricket in 2011, but continued playing Twenty20 matches until 2012. Jayasuriya, who retired in 2012, is a former chairman of selectors.(UNI)