ICC charges Nuwan Zoysa, Avishka Gunawardene on counts of anti-corruption code breach

Former Sri Lankan cricketers Nuwan Zoysa and Avishka Gunawardene have been charged on several counts of breaching the International Cricket Council s (ICC) anti-corruption code.

The retired fast bowler turned coach Zoysa, who played 30 Tests and 95 ODIs for Sri Lanka, has been charged for breaching four counts of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Corruption Code for Participants in relation to the T10 League in 2017. Gunawardene, a former opener who featured in 61 ODIs and six Tests, and who also has coached post retirement, has been charged for two counts.

Zoysa's charges are as follows:

• Article 2.1.1 for being party to an agreement to influence improperly 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 facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.
• Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code.
• Article 2.4.6 Failing or refusing, without compelling justification to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code

In October 2018, Zoysa was suspended by the ICC after being charged with three breaches of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code, which are pending determination. The provision suspension remains in full force, said the ICC in a release Friday (May 10).

Gunawardene's charges are as follows:

• Article 2.1.4 Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.
• Article 2.4.5 Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant.

As with Zoysa, Gunawardene has been provisionally suspended under the ECB Code pending the determination of these charges.

Both players have two weeks from May 9, 2019 to respond to these charges, said the ICC.