Former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Dulip Samaraweera is under investigation by the Australian Cricket Institute for serious misconduct allegations involving a female player. The accusations have been reported by the ‘Herald Sun,’ highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Samaraweera, who served as a coach for the Victoria Women’s cricket team, has been accused of inappropriate behavior towards a professional-level player. Cricket Australia’s Integrity Department is currently handling the investigation, with potential actions expected to follow under the Code of Conduct.
At 52 years old, Samaraweera was scheduled to coach the Australia A Women’s team in their upcoming series against India. However, he has stepped down from the position in light of the allegations.
Samaraweera’s career spans five Test matches and seven One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Sri Lanka. Following his retirement, he relocated to Australia and has been involved in coaching for over a decade. His roles included assistant coach positions with the Victoria Women’s team and the Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Last year, he was promoted to head coach of the Victoria Women’s team.
The cricket community is closely watching the developments of this investigation as it could have significant implications for Samaraweera’s career and the broader coaching environment in Australian cricket.