SLC shortens ban on Danushka Gunathilaka

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has halved the six-match ban imposed on all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka for misconduct after reports emerged that many players were reluctant to visit Pakistan for the final T20I match of the 3-match T20I series. The final squad for the three-match series starting on October 26 hasn’t been announced but Gunathilaka has been cleared to participate.

The final match of the series will be played on October 29 in Lahore at the Gadaffi Stadium. The same place where the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by armed terrorists in the year 2009. Apart from Zimbabwe, no other side visited Pakistan since then. Recently the nation hosted a T20I series between Pakistan and World XI in a bid to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

Suspension revised

“The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket decided to revise the suspension imposed on Gunathilaka upon consideration of the appeal,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Gunathilaka was suspended for unspecified “misconduct” during Sri Lanka’s forgettable home series defeat by India in which the Lankans lost 9-0 across the three formats. However, the cricketer will have to pay the 20 percent fine on his annual match fees. Gunathulaka was ignored for the ongoing 5-match ODI series against Pakistan. 

SLC trying to convince top players

Sri Lanka’s Cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha had earlier said that the board is trying to get as many top players as possible for the Pakistan T20I. Captain Upul Tharanga has ruled himself out of the Lahore T20I. Veteran pacer Lasith Malinga too won’t be traveling to Lahore for the last game of the series.

“Pakistan players came down to help us two weeks after the Central Bank bombing when we were in trouble in 1996. Had they not come down, I am not too sure whether Kenya and Zimbabwe would have honored their World Cup fixtures in Colombo,” Gurusinha said.