Former Sri Lankan cricketer Avishka Gunawardene has been cleared of both the corruption charges by an independent tribunal of the International Cricket Council. Gunawardene, who was facing two charges under the Emirates Cricket Board Anti-Corruption Code, is now free to resume his participation in cricket.
The decision remains open to appeal, and a formal, detailed decision will be notified to the respective parties shortly.
“The detailed decision will be announced to the parties in due course and remains subject to appeal,”
an ICC release said.
Gunawardene had never been charged by the ICC directly but on May 2019, had copped two charges by the Emirates Cricket Board over the 2017 edition of the T10 tournament played in the UAE. He was sanctioned with the following two charges on May 10, 2019:
Article 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.
Article 2.4.5 – Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant.
However, Gunawardene maintained his innocence. He was removed from his coaching roles by Sri Lanka Cricket after the ECB charges were announced, with the SLC CEO explaining that the board was unaware that Gunawardene was under investigation. Gunawardene had some credentials behind him as a very renowned coach, for both the Sri Lanka A and Emerging teams, with many players keeping him in high regards for having a positive impact on their careers.
In another case, Nuwan Zoysa, former Sri Lanka bowler, who was also charged with four violations on the same day (May 10, 2019), received some relief as three of the charges against him were dropped. The ECB’s charges against Zoysa were as follows:
Article 2.1.1 – Being party to an agreement to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match.
Article 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.
Article 2.4.4 – Failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code.
Article 2.4.6 – Failing or refusing, without compelling justification to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.
The tribunal has upheld one charge (2.4.6) against Zoysa while dismissing the other three charges. Former Sri Lanka bowler remains banned for six years in a different case under ICC’s Anti-corruption Code.
ICC’s anti-corruption unit has been carrying out a long-term investigation regarding Sri Lanka cricket. Over the last five years, the unit has found former cricketers Sanath Jayasuriya, Jayananda Warnaweera, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Nuwan Zoysa guilty of breaching the anti-corruption code. Gunawardene is the first to have given a clean chit in all charges against him.
Nuwan Zoysa has played 30 Tests and 95 one-day internationals for the national team and has 172 wickets to his name. He was Sri Lanka bowling coach from 2015 until his suspension in 2019. Avishka Gunawardene has played six Tests and 61 ODIs between 1999 and 2006 and has also handled the role of Sri Lanka’s interim batting coach in 2019.
