Having overcome a two-year ban imposed on him by the ICC, former Sri Lanka opening batsman is all set to take over the Australian side Mulgrave.
Jayasuriya will be involved as Mulgrave’s coach next season after signing a one-year deal with the club to mark his return to the game. Jayasuriya was handed a backdated two-year ban for breaching the ICC anti-corruption code. The ICC announced the ban in February 2019.
Jayasuriya played 110 Tests and 445 ODIs in international cricket for Sri Lanka during a career spanning over two decades. The 51-year-old will be joining his former teammates Upul Tharanga and Tilakaratne Dilshan, who are also currently involved in the Eastern Cricket Association competition.
It was reported by the Herald Sun that Jayasuriya’s decision to sign the deal with Mulgrave had much to do with Dilshan, who encouraged his ex-teammate and friend.
“Dilshan opened the door for us there, and it was a fantastic opportunity that was presented to us. We just had to work on it and come to an agreement, and we have.
I think it’s a great opportunity for our young guys to know what international cricket standards are. That kind of exposure from a young age just elevates the standard of cricket they’ll be playing.”
Mulgrave president Malin Pullenayegam was quoted as saying.
Pullenayegam mentioned that although the deal is for Jayasuriya to coach only, the club wouldn’t mind if the former left-hander wants to bat at some stage.
Coming into effect from October 15, 2018 – as per the ICC release at the time – Jayasuriya’s ban involved charges of refusing to cooperate with the governing body’s Anti-Corruption Unit as it investigated the corruption allegations in Sri Lanka.
The charges detailed by the ICC also included
“obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant”.
The investigation revolved around Zimbabwe’s famous ODI series victory in Sri Lanka in 2017, especially the fourth ODI played in Hambantota. Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors at the time.
