Photo Credit: Getty Images
Sri Lankan cricketer Praveen Jayawickrama has been handed a one-year ban from all forms of cricket after breaching the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption code. The 26-year-old spinner was charged with three violations of the code, including failing to report an approach to fix matches and obstructing an ICC investigation.
Jayawickrama, who made his international debut in 2021, admitted to the charges, including being approached to fix matches during the 2021 season of the Lanka Premier League. He was also asked to contact another player to manipulate outcomes in international matches. As a result of his admission, Jayawickrama accepted a one-year ban, with the final six months of the suspension being conditional, depending on his compliance with ICC regulations during that period.
The promising cricketer had a standout debut in Test cricket, taking 11 wickets in his first match against Bangladesh. However, his career has been derailed by this controversy, and he last represented Sri Lanka in June 2022.
The ICC continues to maintain a strong stance on corruption in cricket, and Jayawickrama's case is a reminder of the consequences players face for breaching its code. Jayawickrama's suspension serves as a deterrent for other athletes involved in the sport, reinforcing the ICC's zero-tolerance policy toward corruption.
