Praveen Jayawickrama charged under ICC Anti-Corruption Code for failing to report match-fixing approaches
Sri Lankan spinner Praveen Jayawickrama has landed in trouble after allegedly failing to report fixing approaches for international matches and some 2021 Lanka Premier League (LPL) fixtures. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has thus charged the 25-year-old with three counts of breaching the Code of Conduct.
Apart from his failure to report corrupt approaches, Jayawickrama had reportedly deleted messages of the same. The left-arm spinner has been given 14 days from August 6, to respond to the allegations. The ICC has levied the offences under Articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.7.
The first offence pertains to "Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received to carry out fixing in future International Matches."
The second offence is ''Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received in which he was asked to approach another player, on a corrupter’s behalf, to carry out fixing in the 2021 Lanka Premier League."
Further, the third offence under Article 2.4.7 is "Obstructing the investigation by deleting messages in which the approaches and offers to engage in corrupt conduct were made."
ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have agreed that the former will take action regarding the LPL and international match charges. Former Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan had notably faced a two-year ban for the same reason in October 2019.
Praveen Jayawickrama has represented Sri Lanka in 15 international matches thus far
The left-arm spinner has represented Sri Lanka in 15 international matches, five each in the three formats after making his debut in May 2021.
The youngster's best performance so far has been in Tests, picking up 25 wickets in five matches, averaging 25.68 with two four-wicket hauls and a couple of fifers.
He hasn't featured for the national side since the T20I series at home against Australia in 2022.