Praveen Jayawickrama’s ban, a wake up call for budding international players
The decision follows allegations that Jayawickrama failed to report attempts made by a friend to involve him and another player in match-fixing activities during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2021.
Jayawickrama’s case emerged from a series of troubling interactions with an acquaintance, referred to in the proceedings as [MR X]. The ICC’s investigation revealed that a person identified in the report as [MR X] approached Jayawickrama with offers to facilitate match-fixing arrangements with fellow cricketer named as [PLAYER A].
According to a six-page detail report issued by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), Jayawickrama was approached by an old school friend, [MR X], who was involved in cricket betting. He had asked Jayawickrama to speak with a Sri Lankan player [PLAYER A] and persuade him to agree to fix matches in the Lanka Premier League in 2021. [MR X] aimed to profit from these fixed matches.
The friend had informed Jayawickrama that if [PLAYER A] agreed to fix the games, he would receive 60 lakhs Sri Lankan rupees, while Jayawickrama would receive 50 lakhs.
Jayawickrama had however, promptly declined to approach [PLAYER A] on behalf of his friend, stating that [MR X] would need to speak to [PLAYER A] directly. However, he did share [PLAYER A]’s phone number with [MR X].
Despite having recently undergone anti-corruption training, Jayawickrama did not report his conversation with [MR X] to the designated Anti-Corruption official, nor did he inform [PLAYER A] about the situation.
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code stipulates that participants must disclose any invitations or approaches to engage in corrupt conduct without unnecessary delay. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of participants cooperating with investigations to maintain the integrity of the sport.
Subsequently, [MR X] reached out to [PLAYER A] and attempted to make a corrupt proposal. [PLAYER A] immediately rejected the offer and reported the incident to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official.
Jayawickrama had deleted all messages exchanged with [MR X] after the latter was implicated in a police investigation. The messages included crucial details regarding the corrupt approaches and potential financial rewards for fixing matches. This act was viewed as an obstruction of the investigation, violating Article 2.4.7 of the Anti-Corruption Code, which penalises participants for tampering with or destroying relevant evidence.
On August 6, 2024, the ICC formally charged Jayawickrama with three breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code. While he denied the first two charges concerning his failure to report the corrupt approaches, he ultimately admitted to the third charge of deleting messages related to the investigation.
In a letter dated September 28, 2024, Jayawickrama accepted responsibility for this breach, leading to the withdrawal of the other two charges. The ICC, in response, sought to impose a sanction that reflected the seriousness of the breach while considering mitigating factors.
In determining the appropriate sanction, the ICC acknowledged several mitigating factors in Jayawickrama’s favour: admission of guilt or the acceptance of responsibility for the deleted messages was seen as a positive step, so as this clean disciplinary record in the past and limited international experience, the ICC recognised his relative inexperience in high-pressure situations, and the fact that there was no evidence that Jayawickrama engaged in corrupt activities or that the integrity of matches had been compromised due to his actions.
The ICC concluded that a one-year period of ineligibility was appropriate, with six months suspended contingent upon Jayawickrama’s compliance with specific conditions during the initial suspension period. These conditions include refraining from any further breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code and participating in any mandated anti-corruption education programmes.
This decision underscores the ICC’s commitment to combating corruption within cricket and maintaining the sport’s integrity. As part of the broader effort to protect cricket’s reputation, the ICC emphasises the importance of transparency and accountability among its players. Jayawickrama’s case serves as a critical reminder to all participants of the potential consequences of even indirect involvement in corrupt practices.
The sanction will take effect immediately, marking a crucial moment in Jayawickrama’s career. As cricket grapples with ongoing challenges related to corruption, the ICC’s decisive action reflects its unwavering stance on upholding the sport’s integrity and ensuring that players adhere strictly to its regulations.
Jayawaickrema who made international debut in 2021 against Bangladesh in a Test series, featured in five Tests, as many ODIs and T20Is for Sri Lanka. However, he has struggled to find a place in the national team since 2022.