Danushka Gunathilaka denied bail, suspended by SLC from ‘all forms of cricket’

Sri Lanka batter was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent

Sri Lanka batter Danushka Gunathilaka has been denied bail via a Sydney court on Monday, after being arrested and charged with four counts of sexual sex without consent. He turned into arrested early morning on November 6 at the team’s lodge in Sydney’s primary business district. The relaxation of the crew has on the grounds that flown again to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva told that “we’re supporting [Gunathilaka], sincerely”, but declined to complicate further. quickly after, but, the board issued a clear statement on Monday suspending Gunathilaka “from all kinds of cricket with immediate effect… after being informed that Mr. Gunathilaka became arrested and charged with sexual assault of a lady in Australia.”

With Gunathilaka not able to depart Australia for the foreseeable future, thereby precluding him from playing for or training with the countrywide crew, the suspension is moot for now. SLC has passed out a minimum of three suspensions to Gunathilaka for past disciplinary breaches. On a minimum of two of those activities, the suspensions have been extensively reduced after a while had handed.

The SLC statement also said it will “will take the necessary steps to promptly carry out an inquiry into the alleged offense and, upon conclusion of the court case in Australia, steps will be taken to penalize the said player if found guilty”. SLC said further that it “adopts a “zero tolerance” policy for any such conduct by a player and will provide all the required support to the Australian law enforcement authorities to carry out an impartial inquiry into the incident”.

In Sydney, magistrate Robert Williams noted Gunathilaka had no criminal history, but the bail bid was refused.

Gunathilaka’s lawyer Anand Amaranath called the decision “disappointing” and confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that his client would be appealing to the Supreme Court. Although Gunathilaka would be released from custody – he is currently in a correctional facility – if granted bail, he will have to remain in Australia “until the case is finalized”, Amarnath said. As the charges are serious, the process could take longer than a year.

Amarnath also said SLC would be footing Gunathilaka’s legal expenses, at least for now. “I’ve been communicating with people from all levels at the board,” Amaranth said. While the board was paying for Gunathilaka’s defense, for now, he expected those funds to be “recovered from him later – it’s a loan essentially”.

On Sunday, Sydney police revealed that Gunathilaka and the woman he allegedly assaulted had begun contact via a dating app and that the 29-year-old woman had “taken all precautions” regarding her safety.

“The pair met on a dating app,” Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty told media. “Between [their meeting on the app] and the 5th of November, they communicated via various platforms, including text, voice, and video chat. On Wednesday, the pair met up in Sydney at a pre-arranged meeting. They had drinks and went for something to eat, before going back to the young lady’s home.

“Police will allege that while they were in the home, the male assaulted the female a number of times, whilst performing sexual crimes upon her. It was just unfortunate. It has nothing to do with a meeting on a dating app.

“The male is being supported by the Sri Lankan Consulate, as any international person would be if they were facing police charges.”

The state of New South Wales had recently put in place fresh affirmative consent laws, which had come into operation in June this year.

Gunathilaka had been ruled out of the T20 World Cup on October 19 with a hamstring injury but had remained with the squad in Australia as “a stand-by player”. “The decision was taken by the team management in consultation with the doctors and selectors, as Gunathilaka was fast recovering from the injury he suffered,” SLC said in a statement. “Hence, it was decided to keep the player with the team, as he had already acclimatized to the climatic conditions in Australia, and can continue to train with the squad with a view to immediately drafting him back into the 15-member squad should the need arise.”