News

Danishka’s Ban on Cricket to Be Lifted

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2023

Editor

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to announce that the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by SLC,
which was tasked with investigating the impact of the criminal allegations against Mr. Danishka
Gunathilaka in Australia has recommended a full lifting of the ban imposed on him in November 2022
following Mr Gunathilaka’s acquittal from all charges filed in the District Court of New South Wales
and his return to Sri Lanka on 3rd October 2023.
In November 2022, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket suspended Mr. Danishka Gunathilaka
from all cricket activities upon learning of his arrest and charges related to alleged sexual assault in
Australia during his travel as a member of the National team for the T20 World Cup 2022. This
suspension was pending the outcome of legal proceedings and was imposed considering the impact
of his actions on the reputation of cricket and the country.
Mr Gunathilaka, who was under travel restriction in Australia for the past 11 months, faced a full trial
in the District Court of New South Wales, Australia, where he was acquitted of the single charge
levelled against him. Other charges under which he was initially arrested were dropped by the
Prosecution prior to trial.
After careful evaluation of Mr Gunathilaka’s exoneration and with due consideration to his cricketing
career and its impact on the cricketing ambitions of the nation, the Inquiry Panel, headed by Retired
High Court Judge, Sisira Ratnayake, Mr Niroshana Perera, Attorney at Law and Mr Asela Rekawa
Attorney at Law, unanimously recommended an immediate lifting of his cricketing ban, allowing him
to resume regular cricket activities and return to national duty.
The Executive Committee of the SLC, at its meeting held on 13th October 2023, has ratified this
recommendation. They have also cautioned Mr Gunathilaka always to uphold his status as a
national representative in all his future actions.

News

Sri Lanka Dominates Saudi Arabia in Junior Davis Cup Qualifying!

Published

4 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Editor

In the ongoing Junior Davis Cup Tennis Qualifying Tournament currently being held in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka had a great weekend by defeating Saudi Arabia 3-0.

The team showed their dominance by winning both singles matches and then winning both doubles matches with comfortable margins.

Sri Lanka won the first singles match when Ashlin de Silva beat Mahdi Al Ibrahim 6-2, 7-5.

In the second singles match, Mayuran Kubern came back after losing the first set to defeat Ahmed Baha Sarouji 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Sri Lanka then continued their momentum into the doubles matches where Mayuran Kubern and Ashlin de Silva defeated the Saudi pair 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

In the other doubles match, the Sri Lankan duo was ahead in the second set 4-6 when the Saudi pair of Mahdi Al Ibrahim and Souhail ElFarouki retired from the match.

With this comprehensive win, Sri Lanka is now in a very strong position within the tournament.

The team will have a day off on Monday and is scheduled to play in the Championship on Thursday.

Cricket

Nuwan Thushara Set to Miss IPL 2026 After SLC NOC Refusal

Published

7 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Editor

Nuwan Thushara is set to miss the upcoming IPL 2026 season in a significant setback for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) declined to issue him a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

The decision comes following SLC’s latest policy requiring all centrally contracted players to meet strict fitness standards before being cleared for overseas franchise leagues. Thushara reportedly failed to reach the required fitness benchmarks, leading to uncertainty over his participation and eventual exclusion.

RCB had secured the services of the Sri Lankan pacer for approximately INR 1.6 crore, viewing him as a valuable addition to their pace attack. However, his absence could now force the franchise to rethink their squad composition ahead of the tournament.

Interestingly, reports indicate that Thushara is not carrying any injury and remains available to bowl. Despite this, concerns over his overall fitness levels falling short of SLC’s criteria have ultimately ruled him out of the competition.

During his stint with RCB, Thushara featured in just one match, largely serving as a backup option. He made a notable impact in that appearance, returning figures of 1 for 26 with an impressive economy rate of 6.50, showcasing his potential when called upon.

Cricket

Sri Lanka Set for December White-Ball Tour of India

Published

8 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka will tour India in December 2026 for an exciting white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour promises competitive cricket action across multiple iconic venues, giving fans across the country a chance to witness the matches live.

The ODI series will begin on December 13 in Delhi, followed by the second match in Bengaluru on December 16. The third and final ODI will be played in Ahmedabad on December 19.
The T20I series will kick off on December 22 in Rajkot. The action will then move to Cuttack for the second T20I on December 24, before concluding in Pune on December 27.

ODI Series
•⁠ ⁠13 Dec – 1st ODI – Delhi
•⁠ ⁠16 Dec – 2nd ODI – Bengaluru
•⁠ ⁠19 Dec – 3rd ODI – Ahmedabad
T20I Series
•⁠ ⁠22 Dec – 1st T20I – Rajkot
•⁠ ⁠24 Dec – 2nd T20I – Cuttack
•⁠ ⁠27 Dec – 3rd T20I – Pune