Cricket Australia has imposed a further 10-year misconduct ban on former Sri Lankan cricketer Dulip Samaraweera, following allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a second player during his coaching career. Samaraweera, who had already been suspended for 20 years from any involvement in Australian cricket for previous misconduct towards a female player, now faces additional sanctions after further allegations surfaced.
The latest allegations relate to Samaraweera’s time as a private coach while working for Cricket Victoria. Though Samaraweera denied the claims, he chose not to cooperate with the investigation. As a result, Cricket Australia handed him a 10-year ban for breaching the sport’s code of conduct. This ban will run concurrently with his existing 20-year suspension, barring him from returning to any coaching role with Australia or state/territory bodies until 2044, when he will be 72 years old.
Cricket Victoria, where Samaraweera had worked for 16 years, including as an assistant coach for the Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), had previously condemned his actions. Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins called Samaraweera’s conduct “utterly reprehensible” and a betrayal of the organization’s values. He also praised the strength and courage of the victim in coming forward, emphasizing that the safety and wellbeing of their people is paramount.
Samaraweera, who had a brief Test career with Sri Lanka, moved into coaching after retiring from playing. He resigned from Cricket Victoria in May due to a conflict of interest, as their policy prevented him from hiring his brother Thilan to the coaching staff.
Leave a Reply