Terrible trio return home; face 1-year ban, hefty fines

The three Sri Lankan cricketers suspended by SLC returned home from the UK yesterday

Kusal Mendis

Niroshan Dickwella

Danushka Gunathilaka

• Will miss upcoming home series against India

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The three Sri Lankan cricketers who breached quarantine regulations in England and were suspended by Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) – Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Niroshan Dickwella – arrived yesterday afternoon and faced a minimum one-year ban and hefty fines depending on the outcome of their inquiries.

They are also due to miss out on the upcoming six-match white-ball home series against India starting on 13 July as the three players on arrival were sent on their 14-day quarantine to the Club Hotel Dolphin – Negombo. On completion of the quarantine regulations, they will then have to face an inquiry into the incident that took place in Durham on Sunday.  

SLC has to decide whether the inquiry into the players’ conduct will be carried out by their own disciplinary committee or an independent committee.    

The trio were recalled from the Sri Lankan team after they had breached the bio-bubble while in Durham for the first ODI against England that took place yesterday.

Video footage published on social media showed the Lankan cricketers Dickwella and Mendis roaming the streets of Durham. The footage angered many cricket fans who took to social media to criticise the behaviour of the cricketers at a time when they had lost all three T20Is to England.

SLC called for a report from the team manager to verify the authenticity of the video, following which they suspended the players until the inquiry and asked them to return home immediately.

SLC sources said they have launched an investigation into the incident to ascertain if the cricketers had breached the bio-bubble and hotel curfew, and if found guilty could face a ban up to a minimum of one year and heavy fines.

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has tweeted that SLC must take strict action against the players who violate the rules.

“Opportunity and time can be invested into youngsters to represent the country, in an attempt to revive #Srilanka cricket. However, playing with a lack of intent and poor discipline should not be tolerated. SLC must take strict action against players who violate these rules,” the Sports Minister tweeted.

This is not the first time that international players have breached the bio-bubble. The advent of COVID-19 last year has given birth to bio-bubbles where the players have to follow strict restrictions to avoid possible exposure to virus transmission. These bio-bubbles can put a lot of mental stress over the players and their performances too.

England fast-bowler Jofra Archer became the first player in international cricket to be dropped for breaching the bio-bubble. The incident took place after he was part of the first Test against West Indies in Southampton last year when Archer broke the bio-bubble and left for his home in Brighton. The unauthorised visit led to him being dropped from the second Test and being reprimanded by the ECB and fined an “undisclosed amount”.

Then in November last year about six-seven players in the Pakistan squad that toured New Zealand were deemed to be COVID-19 positive during their quarantine period. It was further known that the Pakistan players did not follow the medical protocols properly as they were sharing food, not keeping distance and also did not wear masks at all times. This angered the New Zealand Government, who warned the Pakistan team that they would be sent back home if the squad members did not follow the quarantine protocols. Pakistan lost the two Tests and also the T20I series 2-1.

Then in December the same year, the West Indies players during their tour of New Zealand acted very similarly to that of Pakistan as they failed to follow the protocols. Two different bubbles were established for West Indies by splitting the squad which was breached by sharing food and roaming in the hallways. This forced the New Zealand Ministry of Health to disallow the training facility for the visiting players until the end of their quarantine. West Indies lost the two Tests by an innings.

So, the Sri Lankan trio are not alone in bio-bubble breaching in international cricket.