Former Sri Lankan domestic player found guilty of multiple breaches under ECB Code
Saliya Saman, a former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer, has been banned from all cricket for five years after being found guilty of multiple breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code, the ICC confirmed.
The charges relate to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League, in which Saman was involved in attempts to corrupt matches. The ICC’s Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO), acting under the ECB Code for the tournament, disrupted the attempts and subsequently conducted a full investigation.
Saman was one of eight individuals charged in September 2023. After a full hearing, the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of three serious violations:
Article 2.1.1 – Attempting to fix, contrive, or improperly influence matches or aspects of matches.
Article 2.1.3 – Offering rewards to another participant in exchange for engaging in corrupt conduct.
Article 2.1.4 – Soliciting or facilitating other participants to breach the Code.
The five-year ban is backdated to 13 September 2023, when Saman was provisionally suspended. He will be ineligible to participate in any form of cricket until September 2028.
Part of broader crackdown during T10 League corruption probe
The charges were part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown surrounding the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021, an event that has increasingly attracted scrutiny from global regulators.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, acting on behalf of the ECB for this event, has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to protecting cricket’s integrity through strict enforcement of anti-corruption policies.
The official tribunal decision—with redactions to protect witnesses and third parties—is available here. The initial media release detailing the charges can be accessed here.
For more information on the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit and its work, visit icc-cricket.com/integrity.
