Dilruwan Perera’s prima donna attitude lands him in hot waters

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka and Colombo Colts CC cricketer Dilruwan Perera has landed himself in trouble with his club following charges of misconduct.

It is understood that Colts CC has temporarily suspended Perera pending an investigation where he is alleged to have acted in a haughty manner, criticising team selections and being abusive towards senior club officials.

Perera was asked to explain his conduct by the club but it is learnt that he has simply brushed it aside and acted in a manner where he has created an impression that the club will not be able to play its cricket without him and threatened that if he was to leave the club he would take a good many of its players along with him.

Club sources stated that the problems concerning Perera began last season but the club executive committee thought of giving him another opportunity to redeem himself. However the situation has only gone from bad to worse so that Perera now finds himself in the line of fire of being permanently suspended.

Perera, 38, has been a longstanding member of Colts and in the recently concluded 2019-20 domestic cricket season he became only the fifth Sri Lankan bowler to go past 800 wickets in first-class cricket. He ended the season taking 41 wickets from eight matches for the club.

He is also one of the front-line spinners of the national Test team, capturing 156 wickets from 41 Tests and is set to play a leading role in the upcoming three-Test series against Bangladesh.