Cricket: Suspended Nuwan Zoysa to counter ICC against Anti Corruption charges

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Nuwan Zoysa, who was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC), has decided to challenge the ICC Anti Corruption Unit. 

Holding a media briefing Zoysa stated that he is planning to file a court case against the ICC. 

According to Zoysa, on October 2, 2018 while he was working for the High Performance Centre at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, he was approached by three foreigners and they had said that they are from the ICC. 

“I was forcefully taken to the Cinnamon Grand Hotel and I was questioned for several hours and they didn’t allow me to speak even to my wife in Sinhala and I felt very uncomfortable at that moment,” Zoysa, expressed his views during a press conference held at the National Public Library Auditorium on Thursday (28). 

Furthermore he clarified that he never betrayed the nation and that he always played the game in right spirit. 

Zoysa went on to affirm that he had no intentions to let down his beloved fans and team mates. 

Zoysa vehemently denied all the allegations that the ICC Anti Corruption Unit had levelled against him. 

The only fault, according to what Zoysa was briefed, was that he did not inform the authorities that an Indian national attempted to approach him through a coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team at the time of the incident. 

“I should have informed Sri Lanka Cricket immediately after the incident happened but I did not say because I respected the coach and I never thought that it would drag me in to a situation like this.” 

At the time when Zoysa was charged there wasn’t any way of seeking help from Sri Lanka Cricket. 

He added that there should be a proper method when conducting investigations regarding a national player or an official. 

His lawyer stressed the fact that court hearings should take place in Sri Lanka as the player may feel uncomfortable when he is being questioned about his investigations and also he might not be able to give accurate information. 

“We Sri Lankans have a proud cricketing history. Nuwan (Zoysa) is one of the greatest cricketers that the country has ever seen. The authorities must be responsible and they must take necessary action to protect the integrity of the player” Zoysa's lawyer stated. 

Last week the ICC imposed a two-year ban on Sri Lanka cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya, for not supporting the investigations conducted by its Anti Corruption Unit.