(Reuters) – Former Sri Lanka batsman Avishka Gunawardene was provisionally suspended with immediate effect yesterday after being charged with match-fixing by the International Cricket Council.
The charges relate to the United Arab Emirates’ T10 League held in December 2017.
The 41-year-old has been charged with two counts of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) anti-corruption code, including “directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any participant” to fix a match.
Gunawardene, who played six tests and 61 one-day internationals (ODI) between 1998 and 2006, was also suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket as the head coach of the country’s Emerging Team.
Former Sri Lanka paceman and bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa also faces fresh charges of breaching the ECB’s anti-corruption code.
Zoysa, who played 30 tests and 95 ODIs between 1997 and 2007, was already provisionally suspended for three breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code in November.
The duo have until May 23 to respond to the charges.
