Moeen Ali worries cricket fans will watch game through cloud of suspicion

England all-rounder reacts to Sanath Jayasuriya controversy by saying, 'you don't want people thinking, 'is there money on this game?'

England all-rounder Moeen Ali hopes cricket can inspire new generations. Reuters

England's Moeen Ali believes it is essential every player and fan can trust what they are seeing on the cricket pitch after Sanath Jayasuriya was charged with breaching the sport's anti-corruption code.

Jayasuriya is a giant of Sri Lankan sport - a World Cup winner, former captain and selector of the national side and a one-time member of parliament - but was compelled to issue a statement on Tuesday defending his "integrity and transparency" after the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit (ACU) issued two charges against him.

The first related to "failure or refusal" to cooperate with an ACU investigation, while the other concerned "obstructing or delaying" its work by concealing, tampering or destroying information.

England were given a briefing by ACU general manager Alex Marshall at the beginning of their tour of the island and all-rounder Moeen reflected on the importance of taking part in games that were free from suspicion.

"You want people to watch the game thinking everything is right and played fairly," he said.

"You don't want people thinking, 'Is there money on this game?' and 'Because that guy is struggling why is that?'. You don't want people thinking, 'Is he playing for something else?'.

"It is important for the game of cricket and players as well. You want to inspire the new generation and bring new people to the game and you cannot afford to make mistakes like that. It is always a concern when it is the sport we love."

Moeen has never had cause to contact the ACU with any concerns and feels the England team is both well educated and well insulated from the problem.

"I've never been approached or anything and hopefully I never will," he said.

"Our job is to stay tight and protect the environment we have within the team. It is frustrating when you hear these things, but we know as a team we are tight and won't let that kind of thing in. We have that chat twice a year with the ICC, about what to look out for and just things like that."

Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya finds himself in a spot of bother with the International Cricket Council. AFP

______________

Read more:

England players find themselves on a sticky wicket on a trip in Sri Lanka

Jos Buttler: England happy with favourites tag ahead of Sri Lanka series

Ian Oxborrow: All you need to know about England tour to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's famed Galle cricket stadium is all set to face stumps

______________

Jayasuriya, who played in a total of 586 international matches over a span of 22 years, released a carefully worded response to the charges in which he suggested "strict legal advice" prevented him from giving a fuller account until he has responded formally to the charges.

He has been given until October 29 to do so. The 49-year-old former all-rounder did, though, feel able to defend his honour in more general terms.

"I have always conducted myself with integrity and transparency with matters concerning the sport and will continue to do so," he wrote.