Former Sri Lankan cricket captain and former Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya said he always conducted himself with “integrity and transparency” with matters concerning the sport. Relasing a statement to the media yesterday, he said his legal team will respond to the charges levelled by the International Cricket Council.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday charged Jayasuriya with two counts of breaching its Anti-Corruption Code and sought a response from him within 14 days. It was also reported that he was unable to furnish details related to phone numbers in his possession at a particular time.
He had used four SIM cards but was not able to give a satisfactory explanation regarding two of those numbers which he had used during matches.
In fact, he “failed” to remember that he had two of those phone numbers at a given point of time. And when confronted with proof, Jayasuriya had not provided with a satisfactory response.
Jayasuriya in a statement said: I am under strict legal advise 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.
“However, I am under advise to state that the above charges do not contain any allegations pertaining to match fixing, pitch fixing or any other similar corrupt activity. The charges allege that I have not been cooperative and not assisted their investigations”.
Following is the full text of Sanath Jayasuriya’s statement: “I am in receipt of a letter dated October 15, 2018 signed by Iain Higgins, General Counsel of the Anti Corruption Unit {ACU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The said letter contains the following charges against me purportedly based on a finding made by the ICC Anti corruption Committee:
1. Article 2.4.6 - Failure or refusal, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU, including failure to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the ACU as part of such investigation.
2. Article 2.4.7 - Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.
“The contents of the above 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.
“However, I am under advice to state that the above charges do not contain any allegations pertaining to match fixing, pitch fixing or any other similar corrupt activity. The charges allege that I have not been cooperative and not assisted their investigations.
“I have always conducted myself with integrity and transparency with matters concerning the sport and I will continue to do so”.
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