Suspended Danushka from all forms of cricket with immediate effect

The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket decided to suspend national player Danushka Gunathilaka from all forms of cricket with immediate effect and will not consider him for any selections until he clears his name.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka Cricket will take the necessary steps to promptly carry out an inquiry into the alleged offense, and, upon conclusion of the aforementioned court case in Australia, steps will be taken to penalize the said player if found guilty.

Sri Lanka Cricket emphasized that it adopts a “zero tolerance” policy for any such conduct by a player and will provide all the required support to the Australian law enforcement authorities to carry out an impartial inquiry into the incident stated SLC release yesterday.

The Secretary of the Sports Ministry Dr Amal Harsha de Silva said Sports Ministry already advised Sri Lanka Cricket to not bear the cost of the Danushka’s legal fees.

The Sport Minister always serious this issue while no government support to clear Danushka Gunatilleka and Sport Minister Roshan Ranasinghe already gave instructions.

Dr Amal Harsha de Silva said: We knew Sri Lanka Cricket earned more money from ICC and the gat money from each cricket series with foreign teams. However don’t forget SLC money belongs to our Sri Lankan people and that money has to use properly. That’s for Cricket and cricketers development and not for officials visits. The cricketers have lot of the support and this money we can’t use this money like Danushka’s issue and that was his misbehaving matter. We already discussed with Sport Minister, and senior officials and the SLC top officials. The Minister is unhappy as most

of the officials at Cricket Board come forward to involve with this incident get to release Danushka.This is not the first time Danushka did this type misbehaving incidents and don’t forget this was during T 20 world cup and they were representative of Sri Lanka team.The Sports Minister always with the players but how can we protect Danushka after this type ugly incident. He tarnished the country’s image.

Professor Arjuna de Silva the chairman of the SLC medical committee who came back yesterday said: He advised players on injuries. The trainer and the physiotherapist closely works with players .They wanted to get medical support while players should keep fitness and especially our players have to stay home until full recovery. I always said if the player has a injured he should stay until recovery.

However Sri Lanka players sometimes couldn’t stay full recovery period and that is the main reason for the developing injuries. Danushka has a leg injury but on physiotherapist gave green light after 3 -5 days to re join the team.

Chairman of the National cricket selection committee Promodya Wickramasinghe said: Danushka was not good form during the Asia Cup but his experience is the key factor to select the team. We also consider player experience and discussed with skipper and he wanted to add Danushka for the Australian T20 world cup. When we won the Asia Cup no one blame us. Even after defeated some matches and out from the world cup there was not serious issues with selectors.

But with this Danushka issue some are pointed blame to both myself and Consultant coach Mahela Jayawardena and it is very unfair. After the first match played at the qualifying round Danushka got injured and we sent his scan reports to England doctor and got his advice. The Doctor said Danushka has a minor injury and he might come back after 3-4 days.

We not removed Danushka Gunatilleka from the squad as the doctor’s advice. However, with this injury we replaced Ashen Bandara as a stand by player and Danushka was with the team.

He couldn’t go out and stay at the team Hotel while during the match time Danushka with us at the our place and he was not with the team. Some people blamed Danushka was out from the Hotel but that was false story and all players are in their team Hotel.

We gave some days for rest and players can go out and come back according to our rules and not only Danushka all others had this opportunity. All cricketers are professionals and we can’t attend all matters and they should realize their responsibility’ added.

Meanwhile, Wickramasinghe further said: Why they bring 2-3 more standby players to Australia during this tour. Our few players especially pace bowlers got injuries and we wanted to get replacement after approval from the World cup technical committee. We had only one wicket keeper Kusal Mendis and substitute wicket keeper was Bhanuka Rajapaksa. However, we have to get another reserve player for keeping then we get two paceman Asitha Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana while Niroshan Dikwella was the reserve wicket keeper but they are with separate hotel at Sydney with our SLC

Head of High Performance Tim Mac Kaskill and got regular training. If we wanted to get player from Sri Lanka due to visa issues, we can’t get players on time and then we decided to get few players early and get ready.No one can blame all this was happen with the approval of SLC.