Sri Lanka's 25-year-old spinner Praveen Jayawickrama is embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has charged the spinner with three counts of breaching its Anti-Corruption Code.
Sri Lanka's spinner Praveen Jayawickrama faces match-fixing allegations
According to the ICC, Jayawickrama was approached to engage in match-fixing during international matches as well as the 2021 Lanka Premier League. Despite being instructed to report the incident, the spinner failed to comply with the anti-corruption unit's directives.
Further investigations revealed that Jayawickrama deleted messages related to the corrupt approaches. The ICC has now given the cricketer a 14-day period, commencing on August 6, 2024, to respond to the charges and provide his explanation.
Praveen Jayawickrama has been charged with the following offenses under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code:
- Article 2.4.4 – Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received to carry out fixing in future International Matches.
2. Article 2.4.4 – Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received in which he was asked to approach another player, on a corrupter’s behalf, to carry out fixing in the 2021 Lanka Premier League.
3. Article 2.4.7 – Obstructing the investigation by deleting messages in which the approaches and offers to engage in corrupt conduct were made.
ICC to Handle Both LPL and International Match Charges
Sri Lanka Cricket and the International Cricket Council have reached an agreement that the ICC will handle all charges against Praveen Jayawickrama, including those related to the Lanka Premier League and international matches. This decision follows the spinner's conviction for breaching Articles 1.7.4.1 and 1.8.1 of the Anti-Corruption Code.
Jayawickrama: A Rising Star Turned Accused
Praveen Jayawickrama emerged as a promising talent in Sri Lankan cricket, captivating fans with his exceptional spin bowling abilities. He excelled across all formats of the game and appeared to be an unstoppable force. However, these recent allegations have cast a shadow over his career.
Jayawickrama's Brief International Stint
Praveen Jayawickrama has represented Sri Lanka in 15 international matches, contributing 32 wickets across the three formats. His last appearance for the national team was in the 2022 T20I series against Australia. Since then, he has been out of the squad.
Sri Lanka's Historic Series Win Overshadows Jayawickrama Scandal
Amidst the Jayawickrama controversy, the Sri Lankan cricket team achieved a remarkable feat by defeating India 2-0 in a three-match ODI series. This marked their first ODI series victory over India since 1997. The series began with a thrilling tie before Sri Lanka clinched the next two matches by margins of 32 runs and 110 runs respectively. The Lankan spin bowlers were particularly impressive, dismantling the powerful Indian batting lineup.
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