Former Sri Lankan cricketer Dilhara Lokuhettige found guilty in charges of fixing by the ICC
The governing body of the Internal Cricket Council (ICC) found former Sri Lanka pacer Dilhara Lokuhettige of being involved in corruption-related three cases. Lokuhettige was found guilty of corruption charged during the inaugural session of the T10 tournament in Sharjah. He was already held accountable on all the charges formally in November 2019 in front of a three-member tribunal, the ICC added.
ICC stated that sanctions will be followed against the player, who has already been suspended. He was accused of being a party in the matter of fixing and to influence improperly in an international match. He has also been alleged for failing to disclose the names of people, and approaches made to him to be a part of the corruption scandal. He has been charged by ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching three codes of conduct under ECB Anti Corruption laid for participants for the T10 League.
“The three-member tribunal concluded, by a majority, that the ICC had jurisdiction to bring the charges against Lokuhettige and was unanimous in deciding the merits of the case,” ICC stated as quoted by The Dawn.
He has been found guilty of “party to an effort to fix” or “influence improperly” an international match, and “directly soliciting and inducing a player”.
Dilhara Lokuhettige donned the national jersey in nine ODIs and two T20Is
The former pacer of Lanka has donned the national jersey in nine ODIs and two T20Is. Lokuhettige has been found on the unjustifiable end after he exercised his right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal. The Australia-based cricketer stands to be suspended, and further proceedings are in place. He last played domestic cricket in Sri Lanka in 2016, and the T20 League is yet to be recognized as an official format.
The norms he has breached are being covered under article 2.1.1 for influencing the result of the match in an improper way. Article 2.1.4. for directly or indirectly persuading or instructing any participant to breach the code and article 2.4.4. for failing to disclose to the ACU details of invitation for being part of corruption.
