Kamil Mishara expelled from Dhaka after having ‘visitor’ in hotel room

Promising wicketkeeper batsman Kamil Mishara has been expelled from the national cricket team currently involved in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket said that Mishara, who turned 21 last month, has been withdrawn from the 18 member tour party for breach of code of conduct and he will face an inquiry after arriving in the country.

Players and coaching staff in Dhaka are in what’s called a ‘semi-bubble’ and although their movements are not as strict as what they used to be during the height of the pandemic, there are certain protocols that the players need to follow.

A cricket official told The Island that Bangladesh authorities had complained about the player taking a ‘visitor’ to his hotel room, an area considered out of bounds for outsiders. The incident had been recorded in CCTV footage. The Island learns that the team management in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s senior cricketers too had expressed their disappointment at the distraction during a keenly contested Test series.

There was anger and disappointment among cricket officials as only last year they had to deal with three players including the team’s vice-captain breaching the bio-security bubble during their tour of UK. The three players were withdrawn immediately and were handed heavy penalties and suspensions although the suspensions were later reduced. A cricket official told The Island that some players had not learned their lessons and Mishara will face sanctions.

Ironically, Mishara had been drafted into the squad to keep regular wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on his toes. Dickwella has faced his share of disciplinary issues in recent months.

Mishara has a prior having been handed a one year suspended sentence and a one match ban after being found drunk along with some of his under-19 team mates during the Asia Cup in 2019.

An immensely talented young player, Mishara made his debut against Australia at the MCG early this year during the T-20 series. He also was part of the side that toured India in February and was expected to be retained for the upcoming home series against Australia and possibly for the ICC T-20 World Cup as the selectors had backed quite a few young players.