SLC suspends and recalls 3 players from UK for bio-bubble breach

The perpetrators (from left): Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

As if getting thrashed and humiliated 3-0 by England in the three-match T20I series was not enough, three senior cricketers of the team have further compounded Sri Lanka’s chances of giving the home team a good run in the three-match ODI series starting today at Durham, by breaching the bio-bubble on Saturday night, being suspended and asked to return home by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The three cricketers who have acted irresponsibly are opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka – who is not new to such controversies and whose international career has been marred by similar incidents, the last taking place in April this year when he was directed to attend mandatory counselling sessions for a year by a three-member inquiry panel that found his conduct “unprofessional and lacking integrity” – chirpy wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella – who is also not new to breaches of discipline – and vice-captain Kusal Mendis – who was involved in a motor accident in Panadura last year while driving in his vehicle in the wee hours of a Sunday morning that resulted in the death of a 64-year old cyclist.

Their reckless actions have resulted in SLC suspending the three of them from all forms of cricket until the completion of the inquiry and being asked to fly home immediately.

The incident came to light when a video had emerged overnight and gone viral, which showed Mendis and Dickwella in the middle of Durham’s City Centre, where they, along with Gunathilaka, had admitted having gone according to SLC officials.

“There were video clips going viral on social media so we verified it from the team manager and asked for a report. The three players had admitted going out and returned around midnight,” said Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva.

“The action of these cricketers is a disrepute to the country. This clearly shows the indiscipline and irresponsibility of the players. They should realize that they are professionals and what is the commitment.

“We are determined to take very stern action for breach of bio-bubble when strict instructions had been given to them to confine themselves to the hotel. It is a disgraceful act, what will the ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board) think?” queried De Silva.

De Silva stopped short of saying that the players may face a one-year ban from all forms of cricket if they were found guilty.

The media release from Sri Lanka Cricket states:

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform that Vice-Captain Kusal Mendis, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, and batsman Danushka Gunathilaka will be flown back to Sri Lanka, with immediate effect.

“This decision was taken following a preliminary inquiry conducted over a video posted on social media in which the said three players can be seen outside their designated hotel.

“The decision to recall the players was taken by the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, based on the ‘Manager’s Report’ on the matter. The three players will be suspended from all forms of cricket, until the completion of the inquiry.”

Sri Lanka’s white-ball Captain Kusal Perera when questioned how he would balance the team for the ODIs in the absence of these three players and also the injured Avishka Fernando said: “Because we are in a bio-bubble we cannot bring new players from Sri Lanka and the team that we have brought here is also a young side. If the four players are unavailable for selection it will create a problem for us. We will have to give the youngsters a chance.”

The key issue to Sri Lanka’s 3-0 thrashing at the hands of England in the T20Is series was their batting, which has been totally below-par. Losing the likes of Mendis, Gunathilaka and Dickwella will certainly still weaken a batting line up that is struggling to put runs on the board, though it’s not that the three batters have made a huge impact during the T20I series because Gunathilaka totalled 26 in three innings, Mendis scored 54 also in three innings and Dickwella’s two outings produced 14 runs.