The International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of world cricket, has imposed a ban on former Sri Lanka cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya for not cooperating with ICC's anti-corruption unit.

The prolific all-rounder, known for his explosive batting, has denied allegations of being engaged in corrupt activities and has refused to accept the two-year ban, citing his "love" for the game.

Soon after the ICC decision on Tuesday, Jayasuriya wrote in a media statement, "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."

The ICC penalized the Sri Lankan cricket icon for not handing over his mobile devices when he was asked for them. The ICC charged him for failing to co-operate with the ACU in last October.

In his response, Jayasuriya mentioned, "The purported finding of the ACU stems from an alleged failure, on my part, to cooperate with the investigation carried out by the ACU by not providing a SIM card and iPhone immediately on demand to the ICC ACU officials. It is clear that there were no corruption charges, betting charges or misuse of inside information charges leveled against me under the code."

According to the ICC anti-corruption code, the ACU can seek bank details, phone records and assets, including the immediate handover of the communication devices from players/match officials and administrators in order to ensure that no match-fixing or betting-related crime takes place. If any cricketer violates the code or fails to comply with it, that cricketer can be charged.

According to the ICC, the ACU has found Jayasuriya guilty on two counts – "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 "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."

Incidentally, Jayasuriya, who played a pivotal role in helping Sri Lanka win their maiden World Cup title in 1996, was given the option to contest the ACU charges in front of the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal but he chose to opt out.

"Although, I subsequently provided the SIM card and iPhone to the ICC ACU, in light of the on-going war against corruption and in recognition of the fundamental sporting imperatives as contained in Article 1.1 of the code, 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," Jayasuriya justified, pleading innocence.