Kusal Mendis incident forces SLC to review cricketers’ Code of Ethics

Thursday, 23 July 2020 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kusal Mendis

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Cricket will review the already existing Code of Ethics in its contract for national cricketers following the incident involving Kusal Mendis.

Mendis was involved in a fatal road accident on 5 July when the vehicle he was driving hit and killed a 64-year-old cyclist in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

He was arrested and later released on bail and is due to appear in court again on 9 September.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said that there were was a Code of Ethics included in the contracts of all the players but following Mendis’ incident they need to review it and if required make necessary amendments.

“We first need to get some inputs from our internal lawyers and the Human Resources as well before we proceed with it,” said de Silva. Mendis it is understood was returning home from a wedding when the accident took place and with the curfews and lockdowns now ceased was allowed to be on the road at the time.

He was however not on official duty with Sri Lanka Cricket at the time as the residential camp held at Pallekele of which he was part of had ended yesterday – four days before the incident took place.

The ICC too has its own guidelines for players which all cricketers around the world have to adhere to.

De Silva said the Executive Committee on Monday will decide how Sri Lanka Cricket should proceed with Mendis’ case.

“Kusal has been bailed out and he has not been under the influence of liquor. That is something that we will have to take up at the ExCo meeting and see how we want to take it forward,” said De Silva. “Initially it was suggested that a committee be appointed to inquire into the incident. It will be a one-man committee and most probably be an external source that will carry out the inquiry. But we have to wait and see what the ExCo decides,” he said.

De Silva said that a decision on the appointment of an interim head coach for the national women’s cricket team will also be made at this meeting.