Sri Lanka batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who was on Monday charged on two counts for non-cooperation in an ongoing ICC anti-corruption probe and given two weeks to respond by cricket’s world governing body, may be banned from the game for at least six months, and up to five years, in addition to being slapped with a fine, if he continues to stall investigation.
“for a breach of Code Article 2.4.7 (destroying evidence relevant to the investigation), the sanction will be a period of ineligibility of up to five years plus he could be subject to a fine and costs” he added further.
According to sources, current charges against Jayasuriya are related for him refusing to hand over his personal mobile phone to ICC authorities over an investigation. He had reportedly delayed handing over it due to “personal reasons that cannot be disclosed”
The most shocking fact is that the charges do not relate to his playing days, but to his second stint as Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors, which ended in August 2017, after the Sri Lankans had surprisingly lost a one-day series at home to Zimbabwe.
Jayasuriya has 14 days from 15 October 2018 to respond to the charges. The ICC will not make any further comment in respect of these charges at this stage.
