Jayawickrama charged for breaching ICC Anti-Corruption Code

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama has been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with three breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code concerning alleged corrupt approaches in international matches and the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

The ICC said the 25-year-old Jayawickrama allegedly failed to promptly report to the Anti-Corruption Unit when he was approached to fix matches during international games and the 2021 LPL.  He is also reported to have deleted messages related to these corrupt approaches.

Jayawickrama has 14 days from August 6 to respond to the charges. The ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have agreed that the ICC will address the LPL charges alongside those concerning international matches.

Since his international debut in a Test against Bangladesh in April 2021, Jayawickrama has played five Tests, five ODIs, and five T20Is. His last international appearance for Sri Lanka was in 2022 during the T20I series against Australia. In the 2021 LPL, Jayawickrama was part of the Jaffna Kings Team that won the title, appearing in one match and taking two wickets. He also played for the Dambulla Sixers in the LPL 2024.

According to the ICC, Jayawickrama has been charged under Articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.7 of the code, which include: failing to report details of an approach to fix international matches, failing to report an approach to involving another player in corrupt practices during the 2021 LPL, and obstructing the investigation by deleting messages related to these approaches.