Legendary Sri Lankan batsman, Sanath Jayasuriya got banned for two years after admitting to obstruct an anti-corruption probe by destroying the phones which were sought as a piece of evidence by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The 49-year-old, who was charged in October, admitted failing to co-operate with an investigation and "concealing, tampering with or destroying evidence". It is part of a wider investigation into corruption in Sri Lankan cricket.
Sanath Jayasuriya, who retired in 2012, is a former chairman of selectors. Jayasuriya was the player of the tournament when Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 and he scored 21 centuries and took 323 wickets in 445 one-day internationals. He also averaged 40.07 runs in 110 Test matches. The former government minister retired from international cricket in 2011 but continued playing Twenty20 matches until 2012.
Jayasuriya was charged after he failed to provide a phone and SIM card to the investigation when requested to. However, he wasn't given the maximum punishment of five years for his breach after the world body took his previous good conduct into account.
He said in a statement,
It is clear that there were no corruption charges, betting charges or misuse of inside information charges leveled against me, I decided to admit the said charges at the first instance for the love of the cricket, for the greater good and to protect the integrity of cricket.
