Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka cricketer banned by ICC for match-fixing
Published - 15 Aug 2025, 05:46 PM | Updated - 15 Aug 2025, 05:48 PM
Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has received a five-year ban from all forms of cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of multiple violations of the Emirates Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Code during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Saman was among eight individuals charged in September 2023 for violating the Anti-Corruption Code during the Abu Dhabi T10 League. All were associated with the Pune Devils franchise. The Devils finished last with only one win in six matches, and that was their last appearance in the tournament.
Sri Lanka's Saliya Saman Banned for Five Years for Attempting to Manipulate Matches
Saliya Saman was found guilty by an independent ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal of attempting to manipulate matches during the 2020-21 Abu Dhabi T10 League. The ICC, acting as the event’s Designated Anti-Corruption Official, had prevented these efforts.
"Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has been banned from all cricket for five years after an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code," the ICC statement read.
Sri Lankan Saman was banned for five years following the submission of written and oral evidence, with the ban backdated to 13 September 2023, the date of his provisional suspension. He has already served two years of the penalty.
The 39-year-old cricketer has played 101 first-class, 77 List A, and 47 T20 matches. He has scored 3,662 runs in first-class cricket, 898 runs in List A, and 673 runs in T20s. The Sri Lankan all-rounder has also taken over 350 wickets across all formats.
Saliya Saman Charged with Multiple Anti-Corruption Code Breaches
Sri Lankan Saliya Saman was involved in attempts to manipulate matches (Article 2.1.1), offered rewards to other players to engage in corrupt conduct (Article 2.1.3), and directly or indirectly encouraged others to violate the Code (Article 2.1.4).
Article 2.1.1 – Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.
Article 2.1.3 – Offering a Reward to another Participant in exchange for that player engaging in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.
Article 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.
Nasir Hossain Returned to Cricket After Serving a Two-Year Ban
Earlier this year, Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain returned to professional cricket in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League after completing a two-year ban for violating the ICC Anti-Corruption Code during the 2020-21 Abu Dhabi T10 League.
The 33-year-old, banned in September 2023, had served the full suspension period and met all requirements to resume playing. Nasir was among eight individuals linked to the Pune Devils team charged by the ICC for corruption.
The all-rounder faced three charges, including failing to report receiving a $750 gift for an iPhone 12, not disclosing approaches to engage in corrupt conduct, and refusing to cooperate with anti-corruption officials. After the ban, Nasir made his comeback for Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club.
Also read: MS Dhoni and CSK’s illegal tactics behind Dewald Brevis signing exposed by ex-India star
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