ICC appoints Sumathi Dharmawardena as new chairperson of Anti-Corruption Unit

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Sumathi Dharmawardena as the new independent chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Unit. He will be taking the baton from Sir Ronnie Flanagan, after the latter retires from the role after 14 long years in charge. 

A media release by the ICC confirmed the same, mentioning the date of initiation as well.

"The Independent Chair of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit is responsible for overseeing and leading the ACU, which is managed at the executive level by the General Manager - Integrity. Mr Dharmawardena starts in the role on 1st November 2024," read the press release.

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Speaking of Dharmawardena's previous endeavours, he has served as the additional solicitor general at the Attorney General's Department of Sri Lanka. As a part of this, he has represented the government and its ministry of sport in several legal issues. He has also had spells with Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. As a component of that, he has been a part of the investigation panel pertaining to corruption in sports and has also overseen prosecutions under the prevention of offences coming under the umbrella of the Sports Act. 

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The head of the ACU, Alex Marshall, is also set to get done with his seven-year tenure at the end of November. His role was essentially to monitor the undertakings of the governing body to mitigate the presence of corruption in cricket. This included investigating suspicious activities, enforcing regulations based on anti-corruption, as well as disseminating education to players and officials in relation to the topic of integrity in cricket.

Marshall has previously been a senior police officer from the United Kingdom. His main motive to join the ACU of the ICC was to apply his well-rounded background to enforcing laws, and it has been quite successful in safeguarding the interests of cricket on a global scale.