BIPIN DANI
Sri Lankan all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne, who has been handed a one-year suspended ban for his misbehaviour in Australia is still "eligible" to play for the country and the LPL (Lanka Premier League), if selected.
This was confirmed by Samantha Dodanwela, the LPL tournament director.
The 26-year-old Karunaratne was handed a suspended sentence after a disciplinary inquiry of the board found him guilty of breaching the player agreement during the T-20 World Cup.
"Look, it is a “Suspended Sentence”, i.e. a judicial punishment which is not enforced unless a further crime is committed during a specified period of one year. And if selected, he can continue to play meanwhile", Samantha Dodanwela, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, said.
Chamika is most likely to be in the Kandy team for the LPL. His behaviour will be closely watched by the SLC officials. Wanindu Hashranga will be leading the Kandy team and the national spin bowling coach Piyal Wijertunge will also be the Kandy coach.
The exact nature of the violation during the Australia tour has not been made public by the SLC, however, according to the other sources, the player broke the curfew rules and also misbehaved with the restaurant / casino staff.
"In the recent World Cup, the Sri Lankan team had curfew timings but still the player broke the timings. Ouer manager Mahinda Halangoda is a strict disciplinarian. But he cannot be a shadow of the players 24x7. Team's senior members had to intervene when Chamika misbehaved with the staff", the source, speaking on condition of anonymity added.
