SLC lifts ban on Mendis, Dickwella and Gunathilaka

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka Cricket decided to lift the one year ban imposed on three of their contracted players yesterday after the players made an appeal to the board. Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella were handed one year suspensions from all forms of cricket by SLC after they breached the bio-secure bubble during Sri Lanka’s tour of England last year.

The players will be eligible for selections for the upcoming three match ODI series against Zimbabwe in Kandy provided they pass the mandatory fitness tests.

An independent panel headed by a retired judge last year found all three players guilty of breaching the bio-secure bubble and recommended two year bans from the sport. However, SLC Executive Committee decided to reduce the suspension to one year each. They were also fined Rs. 10 million each for their excesses. SLC’s stance had been commended by observers for addressing indiscipline among contracted players.

Following an appeal, they were allowed to take part in domestic cricket and Kusal Mendis, who was Sri Lanka’s vice-captain, when suspended had an excellent Lanka Premier League. A second appeal by the players sees their one year suspension reduced to six months.

The players also had been ordered by the independent panel to undergo medical counseling and SLC sources told The Island that they had been advised by the doctor to relax the ban as it’s length would adversely affect them. However, both Mendis and Gunathilaka have been serial offenders and both had priors.

The Island learns that there had been a remarkable improvement in the players behaviour in recent months and they were keen to fall in line and make an impact.

The recent premature retirements of a few players and impending retirements of some others may have forced the board to soften their stance on the three players on whom they had invested heavily over the years.

Earlier this week Bhanuka Rajapakasa (30) and Angelo Perera (31) had informed the board that they were retiring from international cricket.