Former Sri Lanka players Nuwan Zoysa and Avishka Gunawardene were Friday provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of indulging in corruption in a T10 league in the UAE.
Of the two, Zoysa is already under suspension for a previousallegation of corruption. The two have been given 14 days to respond to thecharges.
The ICC, on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB),charged former Lankan bowling coach Zoysa on four counts and Gunawardene on twocounts.
But the world body did no specify the exact instances thatled to the action against the two players. The charges relate to the T10Cricket League played in the UAE in December last year.
Zoysa has been charged on four counts:
Article 2.1.1: for being party to an agreement to influenceimproperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match.
Article 2.1.4: Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing,enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitatingany Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.
Article 2.4.4: Failing to disclose to the ACU full detailsof any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct underthe Code.
Article 2.4.6: Failing or refusing, without compellingjustification to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU inrelation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.
“Zoysa is already suspended as a result of beingcharged with three breaches of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code in November lastyear, these charges are pending determination,” an ICC release said.
That provisional suspension remains in force and Zoysa hasnow also been provisionally suspended under the ECB Code pending thedetermination of these new charges.
Gunawardene has been charged under Article 2.1.4 and Article2.4.5 which deal with failing to disclose to the ACU “full details of anyincident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that mayevidence Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant.””Zoysa and Gunawardene have 14 days from 9May 2019 to respond to the charges,” said the ICC release.