Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to lift the one-year international ban imposed on Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis with immediate effect. The trio would now be able to feature in the upcoming ODI series against Zimbabwe provided they achieve the fitness standards.
Following Zimbabwe, they can also play against Australia, India and Bangladesh in home and away tours this year.
In July last year, SLC Executive Committee had imposed a one-year ban from international cricket on the three players and six months suspension from domestic games. They had even imposed a fine of Sri Lankan Rs. 10 million on each one of them.
It all happened after a video went viral on social media where the players were seen smoking on the streets of Durham during their limited-overs series against England.
Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka have been suspended by Cricket Sri Lanka Over Bio Bubble Breach.pic.twitter.com/teKsQ9oEW5
— Ali Shamraz 🇵🇰 (@AliiItss) June 28, 2021
Soon, SLC charged them for “putting in jeopardy the safety of players by breaching Covid-19 safety guidelines, including instructions of the team management”. They were also punished for breaking the team curfew of being in their hotel rooms by 10:30 pm and last but not least “brought disrepute to the country and cricket board”.
