Danushka to face preliminary inquiry today

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Danushka Gunathilleke has been called up for a preliminary inquiry by Sri Lanka Cricket today after allegations of misconduct were reported in media last week. Moving on from their stance of past, where SLC has tolerated indiscipline and let players off with a mere slap on the wrist, the present administration seems to be firm and has sent out a strong message that anyone who does not fall in line will be dealt with strongly.

SLC has made efforts to collect evidence on the alleged incident which is supposed to have taken place in Matara. Panduka Keerthinanda, a lawyer, a representative from Sports Ministry and someone from SLC will be present at the inquiry and if there’s is sufficient evidence, then there will be a disciplinary inquiry against the player.

SLC soft-pedalled on a couple of instances when Gunathilleke was found guilty of misbehavior.

In 2017, the team management found him drunk and turning up to the ground having forgotten his bag. The management suspended him for several games only for SLC to reduce the punishment and bring him back to the fold embarrassing the team management.

A year later, there was another incident of misconduct with an European tourist while a Test match was in progress. This time, then Head Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, whom many expected will not tolerate indiscipline let the player off the hook by suspending him only for the home games and to have his services for the overseas assignments.

The latest incident comes at a time Gunathilleke has started showing consistency and if found guilty it will be a severe blow for his career.

One of the reasons why there is rampant indiscipline in the side is because SLC has treated players with kids’ gloves. Kusal Mendis’ hit and run killing a man in the early hours of the day should have earned him a suspension but the board said it was a personal matter and closed the book. Mendis’ CCC connections were taking him places. The board did not put the player in his place even when he went back on his word to build a house to the family of the deceased. Since then, Mendis has not been able to buy a run in the process having collected four ducks in a row. Karmic forces at work, maybe.

There is a clear change of stance at SLC now under Professor Arjuna de Silva who has indicated that indiscipline will be intolerable. You need to have people who value discipline running cricket and not those who seek cheap popularity. They are totally responsible for the current mess the game is in.