Sanath Jayasuriya anti-corruption charge by the ICC just the start, says Nasser Hussain
Written by News on 15/10/2018
Nasser Hussain believes Sanath Jayasuriya’s charge of two counts of breaching the Anti-Corruption Code by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is “just the tip of the iceberg”.
The former captain and opening batsman is accused of refusing to cooperate with any investigation conducted by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, the ICC said in a statement.
Jayasuriya played 110 Tests, 445 one-day internationals and 31 Twenty20s for Sri Lanka during his illustrious career between 1989-2011.
England are currently in Sri Lanka competing in a five-match ODI series and Hussain emphasised the enormity of a player of Jayasuriya’s stature being charged.
“There are other names that are going to come out,” Hussain told Sky Sports. “This is going to be just the tip of the iceberg.
“It is a huge story, he is one of the iconic figures – if not only Sri Lanka cricket but also world cricket. A former captain, a great player of world cricket, former chairman of selectors.
“In a funny sort of way I am pleased it has come out because there have been so many rumours.
“I’ve been in commentary boxes with Sri Lankan and ex-Sri Lankan players and there are so many rumours about big names coming out.”
Battling corruption has remained a high priority for the ICC after one of the most high-profile cases saw Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir found guilty of conspiring to fix parts of the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.
Hussain praised the ICC over their swift decision to charge Jayasuriya, adding that spectators needed to be able to watch cricket without questioning what they are witnessing.
“One thing the ICC have been charged with in the past is they don’t worry with the big names and they’ll go after the small names,” he said. “In this case there are not many bigger names, especially in this part of the world, than Sanath.
“This is not a great moment for world cricket because the rumours going around six months ago was that [corruption] had moved away from international cricket.
“The virus had been cut out and it had moved to T20 leagues, the franchises, the obscure leagues.
“The fact that they are going after Sanath Jayasuriya making sure he provides evidence tends to suggest there is something still out there that hasn’t come out.
“Things happen in sport that are absolutely unbelievable and you can’t have people in the crowd and at home watching and thinking ‘maybe he made a few quid for that’.”
(c) Sky News 2018: Sanath Jayasuriya anti-corruption charge by the ICC just the start, says Nasser Hussain
