Former Sri Lanka pacer Zoysa banned for 6 years under ICC Anti-Corruption Code

Dubai: Former Sri Lanka player and coach Nuwan Zoysa was on Wednesday banned from all cricket for six years after being found guilty of breaching ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code. 

The ban for Zoysa is backdated to October 31, 2018, when he was provisionally suspended.

According to ICC’s statement, Zoysa has been charged with three offences under Article 2.1.1, 2.1.4 and 2.4.4 of its code.

Article 2.1.1 - being party to an effort to fix or contrive or to otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect of an International match.

Article 2.1.4 - directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing or encouraging a player to breach Code Article 2.1.1.

Article 2.4.4 - failing to disclose to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit full details of any approaches or invitations he received to engage in corrupt conduct.

The 42-year-old has also been charged by the ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) with breaching four counts of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code for Participants for the T10 League and these proceedings are ongoing.

“Nuwan played 125 matches for Sri Lanka, attending a number of anti-corruption sessions during a decade-long international career. In his role as a national coach, he should have acted as a role model. Instead, he became involved with a corrupter and attempted to corrupt others,” Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager - Integrity Unit, said.

“Contriving to fix a game betrays the basis of sporting principles. It will not be tolerated in our sport,” he added.

In November last year, Zoysa was found guilty of severe breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code by an independent tribunal.

In 2018, he was charged under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. He also subsequently exercised his right to a hearing.

Zoysa played 95 Tests and 30 ODIs for Sri Lanka, and took 172 wickets in international cricket. (UNI)