Dilruwan escapes punishment but leaves Colts with 5 others

Sri Lanka and Colombo Colts CC cricketer Dilruwan Perera has escaped punishment following charges of misconduct after apologising to the disciplinary committee over his actions when the inquiry into the incidents was taken up.

Colts CC had temporarily suspended Perera pending an investigation where he is alleged to have acted in a haughty manner criticising team selections and being abusive towards senior club officials.

He had also acted in a manner where he has created an impression that the club will not be able to play its cricket without him and threatened that if he was to leave the club he would take a good many of its players along with him.

The club it is learnt has accepted Perera’s apology and told him that he could continue being a member. However Perera it seems has decided to quit the club and along with him another five other cricketers have also resigned.

It is reliably learnt that Perera has moved to Tamil Union along with another member Sadeera Samarawickrama, while Avishka Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya have joined SSC, Hashan Duminda to Saracens SC and Nisala Tharaka to Negombo CC.

After making his first-class debut for Panadura SC in 2000, Perera played one season for Chilaw Marians before joining Colombo Colts with whom he has an association for over a decade. In the recently concluded domestic season 2019-20 Perera, 38 became only the fifth Sri Lankan bowler to reach 800 wickets in first-class cricket. He ended the season taking 41 wickets from 8 matches for the club and has 803 first-class wickets to his name from 222 matches.

He also forms an integral part of Sri Lanka’s spin bowling line-up in Tests having captured 156 wickets from 41 matches. (ST)