Ex-Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya defends his integrity in ICC probe

Sport360 staff 23:20 16/10/2018
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  • Former Sri lanka captain and selector Sanath Jayasuriya.

    Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has stressed his “integrity and transparency” in response to being charged by the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit.

    The World Cup winner and ex-national selector was charged on Monday on two counts – “failure or refusal” to co-operate with an investigation carried out by the ACU and “obstructing or delaying” its work by concealing, tampering or destroying documentation or information.

    He has now issued a carefully-worded statement in which he suggests “strict legal advice” prevents him from commenting fully before submitting his response to the ICC. Jayasuriya does, though, add: “I have always conducted myself with integrity and transparency with matters concerning the sport and will continue to do so.

    “I am under advice to state that the charges do not contain any allegations pertaining to match fixing, pitch fixing or any other corrupt activity. The charges allege that I have not been co-operative and not assisted the investigations.”

    Jayasuriya, who played 110 Tests, 445 ODIs and 31 Twenty20s, has been given 14 days from October 15 to respond to the charges.

    His statement added: “The contents of the (ICC) letter which has been released to the media has caused a lot of speculation among the cricket loving public both domestically and internationally.

    “Unfortunately, I am not in a position to release any comments at this moment as I am initially required to submit my response within 14 days. I am under strict legal advice that no comment is to be made in respect of the above charges as such a course would offend the ICC rules. My legal team is in the process of drafting my response and I would make a further release upon the submission of the said response.”

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