SLC panel recommends suspensions and fines for Mendis, Dickwella, and Gunathilaka

UPDATE (06.30 pm): A five-member panel of inquiry has recommended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to impose suspensions and fines on Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella over their breach of the bio-secure bubble during the England tour.

Mendis and Gunathilaka are to face a 2-year suspension from all formats of cricket while Dickwella would face an 18-month suspension, as per the recommendations.

The panel further recommends that all three national players be imposed a fine of USD 25,000 each.

Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Niroshan Dickwella of the national cricket squad, who are currently suspended from playing, had appeared before the disciplinary committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), earlier today (July 29).

The trio was suspended from all forms of cricket over the breach of the bio-secure COVID bubble during England tour last month.

Subsequently, a disciplinary inquiry was launched against them and they were summoned by the SLC disciplinary committee today to address the charges against them.

However, the trio had managed to avoid press scrutiny by entering SLC from the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) premises.

It was reported sportsmen who arrived at SLC at 01.45 pm today, had left the premises at around 3.30 pm.

During the Sri Lanka team’s recent tour in England, video footage of Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunatilake, and Niroshan Dickwella roaming in Durham marketplace in breach of the bio-secure bubble set up to ensure players’ safety from the COVID-19 pandemic.

One video that went viral showed Mendis and Dickwella smoking in the streets of Durham, where they are based ahead of this week’s first one-day international at Chester-le-Street today (June 29).

In a second video on social media, Danushka Gunathilaka is seen joining the pair, violating the coronavirus rules of their stay in England, where they are not allowed to roam freely.

On July 07, a five-member panel was appointed to investigate the allegations against players.

The panel consists of Retired Supreme Court Judge Nimal Dissanayake, Attorney-at-Law Pandula Keerthinanda, Attorney at Law Asela Rekawa, Attorney at Law Uchitha Wickramasinghe, and Retired Major General M. R. W. De Zoysa.