Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to lift the one-year ban imposed on Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka. The trio were found guilty by SLC’s disciplinary committee for breaching bio-bubble in Durham during Sri Lanka’s England tour in July 2021.
Following a request by all three players, the ban has been lifted with “immediate effect”, as confirmed by an SLC media release, which also says that the decision to lift the ban was arrived after the board “obtained a report from the Doctor, appointed by SLC to provide counselling for the three players during their period of suspension.”
“The three players will be able to engage in playing domestic cricket with immediate effect and will also be available for national selection, subject to complying with mandatory fitness standards,” it added.
Meanwhile, the development comes on the same day when one of the three members, Gunathilaka, announced his Test retirement. He represented Sri Lanka in eight Tests, amassing 299 runs at 18.68, including two half-centuries, with his last appearance dating back to the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. He will, however, continue to represent the team in the limited-overs.
Back then, a local filmed the three players while they roamed on the streets of Durham late at night despite having been told strictly not to step out even of their hotel rooms owing to the Covid-19 situation in the United Kingdom.
Following a social media backlash, the players were immediately sent back to Sri Lanka in the middle of the series, while they were suspended for one year from international cricket and six months from domestic. They were also fined 10 million Sri Lankan rupees.
