Sri Lanka cricket I: Three Sri Lankan cricketers found guilty of bio-bubble violation will not be able to play T20 World Cup, SLC bans Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka for one

ColomboThere is a bad news for Sri Lankan cricket fans. Limited overs vice-captain Kusal Mendis, wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella and all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka have been banned for one year. According to media reports, Sri Lanka Cricket took this big decision on Wednesday. A few days ago, all three cricketers were found guilty of violating the bio-bubble rule in England. All three Sri Lankan players played in the three-match T20I series against England.

However, ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series between England and Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka were seen at a public place in Durham, outside the bio-bubble boundary. Sri Lanka Cricket learned of the bio-bubble violation through a viral video and sent the players home. The three Sri Lankan cricketers arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday afternoon and will now face at least a year’s ban. Apart from this, heavy fines can also be imposed on them after the action.

All three cricketers will not be able to play T20 World Cup this year

The bans of Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka will end in June 2022. This means that these three cricketers will not be able to participate in the T20 World Cup this year. Their absence will be a major setback for Sri Lanka as all three have experience of more than 25 T20 Internationals. These players were included in the category of experienced in the Sri Lankan team that went on the tour of England.

Sri Lanka has not got a direct entry in the Super-12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup. They will have to go through a qualifying round to be confirmed for the next stage. It remains to be seen what happens next in the bio-bubble breach controversy. Currently Sri Lanka cricket team is busy playing ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series against England.