ICC bans Sri Lankan cricketer Praveen Jayawickrama for breaching Anti-Corruption Code

The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a one-year ban to Sri Lankan cricketer Praveen Jayawickrama for a breach of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code on Wednesday, October 2. 

The 26-year-old left-arm spinner has been banned for a year, including a six-month suspension after he admitted to ICC's corruption charges against him. The ICC did not reveal the particular incident to ban the player but confirmed that the 'charges relate to international cricket and the Lanka Premier League'.

"Jayawickrama admitted to being in breach of the following provision under the Code Article 2.4.7 – Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code," the ICC media release said.

Jayawickrama stunned the cricketer world by taking 11 wickets in his



debut Test match against Bangladesh in Pallekele in 2021. He produced record-breaking figures for a debutant in Test cricket but was not able to maintain his form and featured in just five Tests.

He has played 5 Tests, 5 ODIs and 5 T20I matches for Sri Lanka but his last appearance came in 2022. Praveen also featured in the Lanka Premier League for Jaffna Kings in 2021 and 2022, and most recently for Dambulla Sixers in 2023. In 2024, Jayawickrama recently played for Moors in the domestic List A tournament where he picked up 10 wickets in just four innings.

The ICC revealed that Jayawickrama has accepted a one-year ban after admitting the charges against him. 

"As a result of the admission, Jayawickrama has accepted a sanction of a one-year period of ineligibility, of which the last six months are suspended. The charges relate to international cricket and the Lanka Premier League. The ICC, in agreement with Sri Lanka Cricket, acted in accordance with Articles 1.7.4.1 and 1.8.1 of the Code," the ICC statement added.