Sri Lankan cricketer Ashen Bandara was arrested on March 8 after an alleged assault on neighbour over a parking-related issue. Bandara has been granded bail. He will appear in the court on March 12 (Wednesday).
As per a report by ESPNCricinfo, the Sri Lankan police said that the incident took place on March 8 evening in Kolamunna, Piliyandala. Bandara got into an argument as the parked vehicle was blocking the passage on the road. The cricketer allegedly entered the neighbour's house and assaulted him.
"On Saturday evening one of the neighbours had complained of Bandara causing trouble, and that he had trespassed into someone's house," the Sri Lanka police said.
"The verbal confrontation had then escalated into a physical one. He was arrested on suspicion of assault on Saturday night and bailed out on the same day."
Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to make an official comment on the incident and the action following it. The CEO of SLC, Ashely de Silva pointed out that Bandara is is not a centrally contracted player. In the Sri Lanka's National Super League, he has a contract with Police SC.
"We first need to look at the contract and also look at the incident. If he is thought to have brought SLC into disrepute, then there is further action that we can take," de Silva said.
"So we will discuss the matter internally and if it warrants an inquiry we will conduct one."
Bandara's ODI, T20I numbers and last appearances
So far, Bandara has played six ODIs and as many T20Is for Sri Lanka. He has scored 141 runs from five innings at an average of 35.25 including two half-centuries. In T20Is, he has scored 97 runs from four innings at an average of 24.25.
The 26-year-old's last appearance in international cricket was in October 2023. He played in the quarterfinal of Asian Games 2023 and scored 13 runs in a losing cause as Afghanistan clinched an eight-run win. In ODIs, his last appearance was against India. He sustained an injury while fielding and did not bat. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 73 as India won by a record-breaking margin of 317 runs.
His last appearance in competitive cricket was for Police SC on February 14. In the Major League Tournament clash against Ace Capital, he scored 51 runs in a winning cause.