Mendis, Gunathilaka, Dickwella found guilty

Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella

• Heavy fines and long bans recommended by 5-member independent committee  

 By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The five-member independent committee that conducted a disciplinary inquiry yesterday into the alleged misbehaviour of three Sri Lankan cricketers during the tour of England last month has recommended heavy fines and long-term bans on each of them, the Daily FT learns.

All three players – Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella – pleaded guilty to the charges and were fined $ 25,000 each.

In addition, Mendis and Gunathilaka were handed a two-year ban from all forms of cricket, and Dickwella was handed a one-and-a-half-year ban from all forms of cricket.

A final decision on the recommendations has to be taken up and ratified by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Executive Committee.

SLC launched an investigation into the incident after a video was circulated on social media showing the three cricketers Mendis, Gunathilaka and Dickwella roaming the streets of Durham on 27 June and thereby breaking the bio-bubble in which they were placed while on the tour to England. The trio was immediately brought back home and suspended from all forms of cricket until the disciplinary inquiry was held. The incident created a buzz on social media, with many cricket fans criticising the behaviour of the cricketers.