After Danushka Gunathilaka arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket to probe ‘various alleged incidents’ in Australia

T20 World Cup 2022: The Sri Lanka Cricket board formed a 3-member committee to probe into charges of sexual assault against Danushka Gunathilaka, who was arrested in Sydney on Sunday.

Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney on charges of sexual assault (Reuters Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Sri Lanka Cricket on Tuesday appointed a 3-member panel to probe into an alleged sexual assault case against their cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka in Australia. The Sri Lankan board said it would cooperate with the Australian law enforcement authorities in probe of Gunathilaka’s case but added that it would launch its own investigation into “various alleged incidents” during the senior national men’s team’s stay in Australia.

Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney on Sunday morning on charges of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman whom he met via dating apps during the T20 World Cup. The 31-year-old batter was denied bail on Monday even after the rest of his teammates returned home following an early exit in T20 World Cup.

The Sri Lanka Cricket’s 3-member panel will also have a retired high court judge as the country’s cricket board said it would seek an immediate explanation from the team manager over the alleged incidents.

The SLC promised strict action against wrongdoers and also against officials who are proven guilty of negligence.

Notably, the country’s cricket board suspended Gunathilaka from all forms of cricket with immediate effect.

“The committee will also focus the inquiry on various alleged incidents that have come to the attention of Sri Lanka Cricket and that are said to have allegedly taken place during the national team’s stay in Australia,” an SLC statement read.

“The panel in this process will call for an immediate explanation from the team manager pertaining to his (the manager’s) conduct, with references to the occurrence of such incidents.”

Gunathilaka was part of Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad at T20 World Cup 2022. However, he was ruled out after their first Round 1 match against Namibia. The explosive batter stayed on with the rest of the squad even after having been ruled out.

Sri Lanka were eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup on Saturday, losing to England in their final match of the tournament.