Former Sri Lanka Cricketer Dilhara Lokuhettige Banned For 8 Years For Breaching ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Dilhara Lokuhettige has been banned by International Cricket Council (ICC) for eight years for breaching ICC’s anti-corruption code. Lokuhettige’s ban backdates to April 3, 2019, when he was provisionally suspended. Moreover, he has also been charged by ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching three counts of the ECB’s Anti-Corruption Code for participants for T10 League and the proceedings are ongoing.

Dilhara Lokuhettige, 40, represented Sri Lanka national team from 2005 to 2013. He has played 9 ODIs and 2 T20Is during his international career. In 9 ODIs, he scored 83 runs and picked 6 wickets. In 2 T20Is, he scored 18 runs and took 2 wickets.

Dilhara Lokuhettige Found Guilty Under ICC’s Three Articles

The ICC’s anti-corruption Tribunal found Lokuhettige for breaking Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.4, and 2.4.4 of ICC’s anti-corruption code. Below are the details of articles under ICC’s anti-corruption code that Dilhara Lokuhettige has been charged for breaching.

• Article 2.1.1 – for being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise 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.

Alex Marshall, ICC’s General Manager for Integrity Unit, said that Dilhara was very well aware that his actions were a breach of the ICC’s anti-corrption code.

 “Having represented Sri Lanka in international cricket, Dilhara had attended a number of anti-corruption education sessions and would have known his actions were a breach of the Code. The severity of the sanction reflects the seriousness of his offences and his continued refusal to cooperate and should serve as a deterrent for anyone considering getting involved in corruption of any kind,” Alex Marshall said.

A few years ago, Qatar-based News Channel Al Jazeera had reported about Dilhara Lokuhettige’s involvement in match-fixing during a fake T20 series in UAE.

The investigation revealed that Dilhara Lokuhettige was preparing to make money by organising a fake tournament in UAE only to collect huge money to fix matches in the future. Recently, former Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak was banned by ICC for 8 years after being charged for breaching ICC’s anti-corruption code.