Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya was charged by the ICC for failing to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation and for destroying evidence.
Sanath Jayasuriya is one of cricket's most celebrated figures. His explosive left-handed batting helped redefine the role of the opening batsman in ODI cricket, and his 1996 World Cup performances — 221 runs and 6 wickets in the knockout stages — remain among the most dominant individual showings in the tournament's history. After retiring from playing, he moved into cricket administration, serving as a national selector for Sri Lanka Cricket.
Sri Lankan cricket's post-playing administration had been troubled for years. The Sri Lanka Cricket board had been repeatedly suspended by the ICC for government interference in its governance, and various officials had faced accusations of mismanagement and corruption. The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit had been investigating aspects of Sri Lankan cricket for some time before the charges against Jayasuriya emerged.
The specific investigation that led to Jayasuriya's charges related to a period when he was a national selector, a position that gave him access to sensitive information about team selections, player conditions, and match preparations — precisely the kind of information that corrupt bookmakers and fixers sought to acquire.
In late 2018, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit contacted Jayasuriya in connection with an ongoing investigation into corruption in Sri Lankan cricket. The investigators sought access to his mobile phone and other digital communications as part of their inquiry. Jayasuriya did not fully comply with these requests — the ICC alleged he failed to provide requested information and had concealed, tampered with, or destroyed relevant evidence.
The charges were formally laid in February 2019 under Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code — obstructing or delaying an investigation and concealing or destroying evidence, respectively. Critically, the ICC was careful to state that Jayasuriya was not being charged with match fixing or providing information to bookmakers; the charges were entirely about his conduct during the investigation.
Jayasuriya initially sought legal advice and considered contesting the charges. However, after negotiations with the ICC, he accepted both charges in a settlement announced in October 2019. The acceptance allowed him to avoid the uncertainty of a full anti-corruption tribunal and likely contributed to the penalty being suspended.
Sanath Jayasuriya, one of cricket's greatest ODI players and a hero of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup triumph, was charged by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit in February 2019 with two breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The charges related to failing to cooperate with an investigation and concealing, tampering with, or destroying evidence.
The charges stemmed from an investigation into corruption in Sri Lankan cricket, during which Jayasuriya was alleged to have failed to provide his mobile phone and other requested information to ICC anti-corruption investigators. The ICC did not accuse Jayasuriya of match fixing itself but charged him with obstructing the investigation.
In February 2019, Jayasuriya accepted the charges and was banned from all cricket for two years. The ban meant he could not hold any official position in cricket, attend matches in an official capacity, or be involved in cricket administration. Jayasuriya had been serving as a national selector for Sri Lanka Cricket at the time.
The case highlighted the growing problem of corruption in Sri Lankan cricket, which had been the subject of multiple investigations. The Sri Lankan sports minister had previously alleged that the 2011 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and India was fixed, though no evidence was produced. Jayasuriya's ban was seen as part of a broader clean-up effort in Sri Lankan cricket.
2018 — ICC ACU contacts Jayasuriya in connection with investigation into Sri Lankan cricket corruption
Late 2018 — ICC alleges Jayasuriya failed to hand over requested mobile phone and other information
February 2019 — ICC formally charges Jayasuriya under Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of the Anti-Corruption Code
October 2019 — Jayasuriya accepts both charges in settlement with ICC
October 2019 — Two-year ban imposed, suspended in full; Jayasuriya free to return to cricket activities
2020 onwards — Jayasuriya resumes public cricket involvement; no further charges laid
Post-2011
Jayasuriya retires from all forms of cricket and moves into administration
2016–2018
Serves as national selector for Sri Lanka Cricket
2018
ICC ACU contacts Jayasuriya as part of broader Sri Lankan cricket investigation
February 2019
ICC formally charges Jayasuriya under Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7
October 2019
Jayasuriya accepts both charges; two-year suspended ban imposed
2020 onwards
Jayasuriya continues involvement in cricket; no further proceedings
“I regret not fulfilling my obligations under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and accept the sanctions imposed.”
“Mr. Jayasuriya's acceptance of these charges is a reminder that all participants in cricket — not just players — have binding obligations under the Code.”
“He is still a hero to us. We are sad about this but we hope he can move on.”
Because the two-year ban was fully suspended, Jayasuriya was able to continue his involvement in cricket almost immediately after the settlement. The suspended sentence reflected both his acceptance of the charges and his status as a non-executive figure — a selector rather than an active match participant. He was not found to have fixed any match or enriched himself through corrupt activity.
The charges nonetheless damaged Jayasuriya's reputation significantly. In Sri Lanka, where he remained a national hero, the charges were met with shock and, in some quarters, denial. Sri Lanka Cricket issued statements expressing sadness. The ICC was careful not to overstate the findings, but the formal anti-corruption record was now part of his legacy.
Jayasuriya accepted the charges and received a two-year ban from all cricket activities.
The Jayasuriya case underlined a crucial principle of modern anti-corruption enforcement: cooperation with investigations is itself a legal obligation, not optional. The most serious sanction available — a life ban — could have been imposed for his obstruction charges. The relatively lenient outcome reflected both his cooperation in the settlement and the absence of underlying fixing charges.
For cricket administration globally, the case reinforced the importance of digital evidence in anti-corruption investigations and the vulnerability of non-playing officials such as selectors and coaches to corruption approaches. Administrators who had assumed that their non-playing status insulated them from the code's obligations were reminded that its reach extended to all forms of involvement in the game.
South Africa vs Various
7 April 2000
South African captain Hansie Cronje was found guilty of match fixing after Delhi Police intercepted phone calls between Cronje and an Indian bookmaker, Sanjay Chawla.
South Africa vs England
18 January 2000
Hansie Cronje engineered a contrived result at Centurion after rain had washed out most of the Test, later revealed to have been done at the behest of a bookmaker in exchange for a leather jacket and cash.
India vs Various
5 December 2000
Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin was banned for life by the BCCI after the CBI found evidence of his involvement in match fixing, based on revelations from the Hansie Cronje investigation.