Cricket news roundup – 26th February 2019: ICC bans Sanath Jayasuriya; Duanne Olivier signs Kolpak

In cricket news across the world, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit has banned Sanath Jayasuriya from all cricket activities for two years; Duanne Olivier has signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire; and Mitchell Swepson bowled a bizarre delivery in the Sheffield Shield.

Jayasuriya banned

The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit had banned Sri Lankan Chief Selector Sanath Jayasuriya on October 25, 2017. Jayasuriya had violated to cooperate with an ACU investigation, thereby violating Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code. Jayasuriya had refused to submit his iPhone and SIM card to assist in the investigation despite the ACU insisting him to do the same.

Jayasuriya cannot take part in any cricket-related activities for two years. He is the third former Sri Lankan cricketer to be slapped with a ban by ICC ACU in the past three months, after Nuwan Zoysa and Dilhara Lokuhettige.

The investigation had been triggered by Sri Lanka’s shock defeat to Zimbabwe in the home ODI series of 2017.

Jayasuriya has refused to contest the ban out of love for cricket. He sent out the following message for his fans in a tweet:
“I reiterate the fact that I have always maintained a high degree of integrity throughout my cricketing career. I have always put country first and the cricket loving public are the best witnesses to this aspect … I decided to admit the said charges at the first instance for the love of the Sport of Cricket, for the greater good and to protect the integrity of the Sport of Cricket.”

Olivier goes to Yorkshire

Duanne Olivier, one of South Africa’s most exciting fast-bowling talents, has decided to quit international cricket and sign up a three-year Kolpak deal with Yorkshire.

This is a big blow to South Africa, for Olivier had been part of their injury-ridden pace arsenal, also consisting of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, and Lungi Ngidi.

From 10 Tests Olivier has picked up 48 wickets at 19.25. Half of these came in the 3-Test series against Pakistan earlier this year, where he was named Player of the Series.

Olivier had made his debut in the 2016-17 season when Kyle Abbott had decided to sign up a Kolpak deal for Hampshire.

What pitch?

In a Sheffield Shield match at Junction Oval, St Kilda, Mitchell Swepson of Queensland bowled one of the most bizarre deliveries in the history of cricket, against Victoria.

Bowling his leg-breaks to a left-handed batsman from around the wicket, Swepson bowled wide outside off-stump – so wide that it landed outside the pitch, leaving the television commentators in utter confusion.