Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that the charge of breaching the ICC anti-corruption code for violation of two important rules on Sanath Jayasuriya is "just the tip of the iceberg".
Jayasuriya, who scored 6,973 runs at 40.07 across 110 Tests and 13,430 runs in 445 ODIs for Sri Lanka, has been accused of refusing to cooperate with any investigation conducted by the ICC's anti-corruption unit. He has been given 14 days from 15 October 2018 to respond to the charge by the game’s governing body.
"There are other names that are going to come out. This is going to be just the tip of the iceberg. It is a huge story, he is one of the iconic figures - if not only Sri Lanka cricket but also world cricket. A former captain, a great player of world cricket, former chairman of selectors,” Hussain told Sky Sports.
"In a funny sort of way I am pleased it has come out because there have been so many rumours. I've been in commentary boxes with Sri Lankan and ex-Sri Lankan players and there are so many rumours about big names coming out," he added.
Jayasuriya was found offender of the law under Article 2.4.6, which reads, "Failure or refusal, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU, including failure to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the ACU as part of such investigation."
And, also made violation of Article 2.4.7 regarding "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 to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code."
Hussain hailed the ICC over their quick decision to charge Jayasuriya, adding that spectators needed to be able to watch cricket without an iota of doubt.
"One thing the ICC have been charged with in the past is they don't worry with the big names and they'll go after the small names," he said. "In this case there are not many bigger names, especially in this part of the world, than Sanath.
"This is not a great moment for world cricket because the rumours going around six months ago was that [corruption] had moved away from international cricket. The virus had been cut out and it had moved to T20 leagues, the franchises, the obscure leagues.
"The fact that they are going after Sanath Jayasuriya making sure he provides evidence tends to suggest there is something still out there that hasn't come out. Things happen in sport that are absolutely unbelievable and you can't have people in the crowd and at home watching and thinking 'maybe he made a few quid for that'." Hussain concluded.
