Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken the choice to carry Danushka Gunathilaka’s ban following the suggestions of an unbiased inquiry committee appointed by the board. The ban had been imposed on Gunathilaka in mild of his arrest and expenses associated to alleged sexual assault in Australia throughout final 12 months’s T20 World Cup. This growth paves the best way for the batter to make a comeback to the nationwide facet after being sidelined for almost a 12 months.
The choice was confirmed following a gathering of the chief committee of the SLC on October 13.
The Sri Lanka cricket board launched an official assertion on the cricketer that states, “Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) needs to announce that the Unbiased Inquiry Committee appointed by SLC, which was tasked with investigating the affect of the legal allegations in opposition to Mr. Danushka Gunathilaka in Australia, has really helpful a full lifting of the ban imposed on him in November 2022 following Mr. Gunathilaka’s acquittal from all expenses filed within the District Court docket of New South Wales and his return to Sri Lanka on third October 2023. He would now be capable to return to nationwide obligation.”
Final 12 months, the 32-year-old Gunathilaka had been arrested in Australia on expenses of sexual activity with out consent, together with 4 counts of rape. Nonetheless, the prosecution dropped these expenses earlier than the trial, and he additionally confronted journey restrictions for 11 months in Australia.
Gunathilaka had maintained his innocence, pleaded not responsible, and underwent a four-day trial, finally being acquitted of all expenses filed in opposition to him within the District Court docket of New South Wales. He returned to Sri Lanka on October 3 this 12 months.
The SLC assertion famous, “This suspension was pending the end result of authorized proceedings and was imposed contemplating the affect of his actions on the fame of cricket and the nation.”
“After cautious analysis of Gunathilaka’s exoneration and with due consideration to his cricketing profession and its affect on the cricketing ambitions of the nation, the Inquiry Panel, headed by Retired Excessive Court docket Decide, Sisira Ratnayake, Niroshana Perera, Legal professional at Legislation, and Asela Rekawa Legal professional at Legislation, unanimously really helpful a right away lifting of his cricketing ban, permitting him to renew common cricket actions and return to nationwide obligation,” the discharge added.
Relating to Sri Lanka’s efficiency within the ongoing ICC Males’s ODI World Cup 2023the group has had a difficult begin, having performed three video games within the match and not using a win.