SLC to appoint committee to inquire into Kusal Mendis incident

Sri Lanka cricketer Kusal Mendis (right), his damaged SUV and the victim’s bike 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Cricket is to initiate an internal inquiry into the incident involving cricketer Kusal Mendis before handing out any sort of punishment.

Mendis was involved in a fatal car accident in Panadura in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday where he ran over a 64-year-old man on a cycle who eventually succumbed to his injuries and died. He was arrested by the Panadura police and later released on bail. He is due to appear in court again on 9 September.

“We are going to initiate an internal inquiry. We are not going to let this incident go unnoticed,” said Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva.

“We are surprised that he has been released in such a short period of time. Whatever said and done we need to get all the details and get ready for an internal inquiry. Definitely there will be some kind of reprimand. Discipline is of prime importance,” he said.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said the incident would be tabled at the next ExCo meeting next week and they would conduct an inquiry based on the decision taken.

“Whether Mendis will get a suspension everything depends on the seriousness of the offence. We were told that he had nothing under the influence of liquor and that has something to do with his private life,” said De Silva.

“He has been returning home at four in the morning so we might have to look at it according to the contract and code of ethics and all that. We have to take all that into consideration before a decision is made. I can’t say anything now what sort of action we would take against him. We will have to appoint a committee from Sri Lanka Cricket to conduct the inquiry,” he said.

When it was pointed out that another Sri Lankan cricketer Shehan Madushanka was suspended from all forms of cricket by SLC prior to an inquiry being held, De Silva replied, “We could not conduct an inquiry because he is in police custody so the decision for the moment is that we have suspended him pending an inquiry.”

“Mendis we cannot do that because other than knocking down this person he has not been under the influence of liquor, if he was we could have taken the decision to suspend him. This has also something to do with his private life. He had gone for a wedding and the incident had happened and we also didn’t have any training programs for him to be on official duty during the time the incident happened. For us to take a stance like that immediately is not possible,” De Silva said.

Fast bowler Madushanka was arrested by the Pannala police on May 24 in possession of over 2 grams of heroin alleged found in his car.

With the domestic season set to resume on July 14 after the COVID-19 lockdown, De Silva said that all the national cricketers are expected to take part in it as they do not have any international commitments.

Questioned whether Mendis would be able to take part, De Silva stated, “Mendis should be able to play, until he is found guilty he cannot be suspended. If we don’t conduct the inquiry before the first game definitely he can play.”

“Being a national cricketer he should also know what his responsibilities are. He could be one of the best batters in the world in time to come. The boy has a very good future ahead of him, it’s very unfortunate,” he said.

CCC whom Mendis leads is due to play Ragama CC at Katunayake on July 14, 15, 16.