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Saliya Saman Handed Five-Year Ban for Anti-Corruption Breaches in Abu Dhabi T10
Former Sri Lankan Cricketer Found Guilty of Multiple Offences
Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has been banned from all cricket-related activities for five years after being found guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League.
The ban was confirmed following an investigation led by an independent ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal, which conducted the proceedings on behalf of the ECB. According to the findings, Saman was directly involved in attempts to influence matches improperly, violating the sport’s integrity rules.
ICC Disrupts Corrupt Activities in Abu Dhabi T10
The International Cricket Council (ICC), acting as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official for the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League, revealed that Saman was part of several attempts to fix matches and offer illegal rewards to players in exchange for engaging in corrupt practices.
Tribunal Findings and Code Violations
The tribunal found Saman guilty of the following breaches of the ECB’s Anti-Corruption Code:
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Article 2.1.1: Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive, or improperly influence matches or aspects of matches.
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Article 2.1.3: Offering rewards to participants in exchange for engaging in corrupt conduct.
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Article 2.1.4: Soliciting, inducing, or facilitating another participant to breach Article 2.1.
The ban has been backdated to September 13, 2023, the day Saman was provisionally suspended after the charges were filed.
Widespread Anti-Corruption Drive in Cricket
Saman was one of eight individuals charged in September 2023 for corruption-related offenses in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. His punishment underscores cricket’s continuing battle against corruption and the ICC’s zero-tolerance stance on unethical practices.
An ICC spokesperson emphasized that the ban serves as a reminder to players and officials worldwide that any involvement in corrupt conduct will be met with strict sanctions.
For more details on the ICC’s anti-corruption measures, you can read directly from the official ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
Cricket’s Integrity at Stake
The ICC and national cricket boards have repeatedly warned about the dangers of corruption, particularly in shorter formats such as T10 and T20 leagues, which are more vulnerable to manipulation due to their fast-paced nature.
This case also highlights the need for domestic and semi-professional players to undergo proper anti-corruption education and maintain ethical responsibility when participating in global franchise tournaments.
For readers following anti-corruption updates in cricket, you can also explore our in-depth coverage of recent cricket bans and disciplinary actions.
The five-year ban on Saliya Saman serves as a stern warning to all players that corruption will not be tolerated at any level of the sport. With the ICC continuing to tighten its monitoring systems, incidents of fixing are being detected and prosecuted more swiftly, reinforcing the game’s credibility.
