Former SL cricketers Zoysa, Gunawardene charged under Anti-Corruption Code

Dubai: International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday charged former Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Zoysa with breaching four counts of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code for participants in the T10 League (the 'Code') and batsman Avishka Gunawardene for two counts,  the world cricket body said here. 

The charges pertains to the T10 league that was played in the UAE last December.

"The ICC was appointed by the ECB as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official for the purposes of the ECB's Code for this tournament and as such are issuing these charges on the ECB's behalf," the Council said in a statement. 

It further added that the charges follow a recent amnesty to participants who had previously failed to report any information concerning corrupt conduct in Sri Lankan cricket.The two former Sri Lanka players have been charged with the following offences under the Code:

Nuwan Zoysa:

Article 2.1.1 : for being party to an agreement to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match.

Article 2.1.4 : Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.

Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.6: Failing or refusing, without compelling justification to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Zoysa is already suspended as a result of being charged with three breaches of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code in November last year, these charges are pending determination.

The provisional suspension remains in full force and effect and Mr Zoysa has additionally been provisionally suspended under the ECB Code pending the determination of these new charges.

Avishka Gunawardene:

Article 2.1.4: Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.

Article 2.4.5: Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code by another participant.Gunawardene has also been provisionally suspended under the ECB Code pending the determination of these charges.

"Zoysa and  Gunawardene have 14 days from  May 9, 2019, to respond to the charges. The ICC will not make any further comment in respect of these charges at this stage," it concluded. 

Gunawardene becomes the fourth high profile Sri Lankan cricketer to be charged by the world body on corruption charges joining the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Nuwan Zoysa and Dilhara Lokuhettige.

The former explosive Sri Lanka opener Jayasuriya was banned from all cricket activities for two years after admitting breaching two counts of world cricket body's anti-corruption code, while left arm pacer Zoysa and right-arm medium bowler Lokuhettige have been suspended pending the determination of corruption charges. 

The former Sri Lanka opening bat and captain was accused of failing to cooperate with an investigation into corruption, and delaying or obstructing it, after the ICC issued a demand to examine his mobile phones.  

Jayasuriya,49,  was accused of not cooperating with a corruption investigation, and delaying or obstructing it, after the ICC issued a demand to examine his mobile phones.(UNI)