ICC hands five-year ban to former Sri Lankan cricketer over match-fixing in this league

The Indian Cricket Council (ICC) has handed a five-year ban to former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman over match-fixing scandal. has received a five-year ban from all cricket activities after being found guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code. The ruling was made by an independent ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal. Saman, 39, was one of eight individuals charged in September 2023 following an investigation into the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League.

ICC hands 5-year ban to Saliya Saman

The tribunal determined that Saman had attempted to manipulate matches during the tournament. However, the breaches were ultimately prevented thanks to the timely intervention of the ICC and the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO). Saman’s ban is backdated to September 13, 2023, the date of his provisional suspension, meaning he has already served two years of the five-year sanction.

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During his domestic career, Saman was a seasoned player, competing in 101 first-class and 77 List A matches. The charges brought against him fell under Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.3, and 2.1.4 of the ECB Code. These articles specifically address match-fixing, attempting to fix matches, and soliciting or encouraging others to engage in corrupt conduct.

Article 2.1.1: Being party to an attempt to improperly fix, contrive, or influence matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.
Article 2.1.3: Offering a reward to another participant in exchange for engaging in corrupt conduct.
Article 2.1.4: Soliciting, inducing, or encouraging another participant to breach Article 2.1.

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The 39-year-old had a long and productive domestic cricket career. In first-class matches, he played 101 games, scoring 3,662 runs with an average of 27.95. His performance included two centuries and 22 half-centuries, with a top score of 129. In List A cricket, he scored 898 runs in 77 matches, with his highest being 65. He also proved effective in the T20 format, tallying 673 runs at a solid strike rate of 129.92, which featured two half-centuries and a top score of 78 not out. Saman was also an accomplished bowler. In first-class cricket, he took 231 wickets at an average of 25.92, with his best figures being 8 for 53. He continued this success in other formats, taking 84 wickets in List A matches and 58 in T20s.