Another ex-Lanka player charged with corruption

Dubai, November 13

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Dilhara Lokuhettige has been charged under an anti-corruption code relating to a 10-over league in the United Arab Emirates last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday. The 38-year-old, who played nine ODIs and two T20Is for Sri Lanka, has been charged with three counts of breaching the anti-corruption code of the Emirates Cricket Board, the global governing body said.

“Lokuhettige has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect,” ICC said in a press statement. Lokuhettige has 14 days to respond to the charges, it added. The charges against the bowling all-rounder include being party to an effort to fix the result or progress of a match, and directly soliciting, inducing, enticing or encouraging a player to do the same.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been grappling with a series of corruption cases and Lokuhettige is the latest name to be added to the list of those involved. Former paceman and bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa was provisionally suspended on October 31 after being charged by the ICC with match-fixing. SLC promptly sent Zoysa on “compulsory leave”.

Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was last month charged with two counts of breaching the ICC's anti-corruption code. He denied any wrongdoing. Also in October, SLC's chief financial officer Wimal Nandika Dissanayake was remanded in custody for suspected financial misappropriation linked with awarding telecast rights to Sony TV. — Reuters