Sri Lanka Cricket suspend Chamika Karunaratne from all forms of cricket for one year

All-rounder Chamika Karunaratne was given a one-year suspension ban by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday for violating multiple terms of the Player Agreement during the recently finished T20 World Cup in Australia. Karunaratne was essential to Sri Lanka's victory at the Asia Cup earlier this year. Karunaratne pleaded guilty to all of the accusations made against him by the Executive Committee of the SLC following a disciplinary inquiry.

On November 23, the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka, Roshan Ranasinghe, gave the Sports Director General instructions to seek a report on Chamika Karunaratne's exclusion from the Sri Lanka ODI team facing Afghanistan. As a reason, the squad hasn’t been announced yet officially by the board. The Afghanistan team landed in Sri Lanka yesterday in preparation for the one-day international series that will start on November 25, Friday, at Pallekele, Kandy.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform that at the disciplinary inquiry carried out by the three-member inquiry panel into the alleged violations by the nationally contracted player, Chamika Karunaratne, for breaching several clauses in the Player Agreement during the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup held in Australia, Mr. Karunaratne had pledged guilty for all charges leveled against him,” SLC said in a statement.

“Considering the seriousness of the violations committed by Mr. Karunaratne, the Inquiry Panel by its report has recommended to the Executive Committee of the SLC to strongly warn the player to refrain from further violations and to impose a punishment that will not have an impact on his cricketing career,” SLC added.

A fine of USD 5000 was also imposed on Karunaratne

According to sources within the Sports Ministry, a go-ahead on the squad for the Afghanistan series has not yet been given as a result of several concerns regarding many dubious picks, including the removal of all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne.

“Subsequent to the said findings and recommendations of the inquiry panel the Executive Committee of SLC has handed a one-year ban from taking part in all forms of Cricket, and the said ban will be suspended for a period of one year. And further to the said suspended sentence a fine of USD 5,000/- was also imposed against Mr. Karunaratne,” SL further stated.