The ban stemmed from Gunathilaka's arrest and subsequent charges related to an alleged sexual assault incident in Australia.
Following an extensive inquiry conducted by an independent committee appointed by Sri Lanka Cricket, the ban imposed on Danushka Gunathilaka on November 22 has been recommended for complete revocation. The ban stemmed from Gunathilaka’s arrest and subsequent charges related to an alleged sexual assault incident in Australia. The recommendation, endorsed by the SLC executive committee during a meeting on October 13, comes with a cautious directive for Gunathilaka to uphold the honour of representing Sri Lanka in all his future endeavours.
In the wake of an incident during last year’s T20 World Cup, where Gunathilaka faced accusations of sexual intercourse without consent, he experienced 11 months of travel restrictions while in Australia. Initially charged with four counts of rape, the prosecution dropped the charges before trial, ultimately pursuing a single count of “stealthing” in court. Gunathilaka maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, facing a rigorous four-day trial before being acquitted.
Read More: ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule
With this exoneration in mind, and considering Gunathilaka’s potential impact on the nation’s cricketing aspirations, the Inquiry Panel, led by Retired High Court Judge Sisira Ratnayake, along with legal experts Niroshana Perera and Asela Rekawa, unanimously proposed an immediate lifting of the cricketing ban. This decision allows Gunathilaka to resume regular cricket activities and opens the door for his return to national duty, as outlined in the official SLC media release.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Follow Us
