Praveen Jayawickrama of Sri Lanka Accused of Violating ICC Anti-Corruption Rules

Sri Lankan bowler Praveen Jayawickrama has been accused of three violations of breaching the ICC anti-corruption code, including procrastination in reporting match-fixing solicitation promptly and tampering with evidence. The 25-year-old southpaw bowler Jayawickrama purportedly neglected to inform the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit of approaches made to him to manipulate international matches as well as Lanka Premier League games in 2021.

The ICC announced on its website on Thursday, “Allegedly, the Sri Lanka bowler was discovered to have erased messages related to the solicitation for engaging in corrupt activities.” The player has been granted a 14-day period to provide a response commencing on August 6.

Jayawickrama has been indicted under Article 2.4.4, which concerns “omitting to report to the ACU, promptly, details of a solicitation he received to engage in fixing in forthcoming International Matches.” The subsequent offense is also linked to Article 2.4.4, which concerns “omitting to report to the ACU promptly, details of a solicitation he received to approach another player, on behalf of a corrupter, to engage in fixing in the 2021 Lanka Premier League.” The cricketer has also been accused of “impeding the investigation.”

The ICC stated, “Article 2.4.7 – Impeding the investigation by erasing messages in which the solicitations and offers to participate in corrupt behavior were made.” The ICC further mentioned, “Pursuant to Articles 1.7.4.1 and 1.8.1 of the Code, Sri Lanka Cricket and the ICC have concurred that the ICC will address the Lanka Premier League charge in conjunction with the International Match charges.”