Sri Lanka Cricket has reportedly decided to refer former national captain Dasun Shanaka to the disciplinary committee following a controversial sequence of events during his recent cricket commitments.
Shanaka, who was playing for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 tournament, unexpectedly returned to Sri Lanka to represent SSC in their crucial inter-club three-day match against Moors SC, which began on January 31. The Moors team posted a dominant total of 412/9, while SSC struggled at 77 for five. Shanaka stepped in and scored a rapid century, helping his team stabilize the innings.
However, on February 2, the third day of the match, he was hit by a ball in the morning session. Following medical advice, the match umpire instructed him to rest after lunch. Then, the real drama began. Just four hours after SSC finished the match, Shanaka was spotted in Dubai, stepping onto the field for Dubai Capitals in an ILT20 match at the Dubai International Stadium.
The SSC Cricket Committee Chairman, Samantha Dodanwala, has formally requested Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva to launch a disciplinary investigation into Shanaka’s conduct, claiming that he left without informing the team. According to reports from Wisden, Ashley de Silva has confirmed the inquiry, and the matter will be handled by SLC’s Disciplinary Committee.
However, doubts have surfaced regarding the credibility of this inquiry. Critics argue that if the investigation is to be fair and transparent, it should not only focus on Shanaka but also include questioning the doctor who advised him to rest, the match umpire who made the decision, and the match referee overseeing the game. If the inquiry is genuinely impartial, Shanaka should be temporarily suspended from playing in SSC’s upcoming matches until the investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, Saman Jayantha, SSC’s former coach, recently left his position at Sri Lanka Cricket’s High-Performance Center to return as SSC’s coach. This decision came as SSC faces the threat of relegation to the second division. However, Sri Lanka Cricket regulations prohibit coaches from simultaneously working at both the national level and in club cricket. This means that Jayantha cannot return to his role at Sri Lanka Cricket after SSC’s upcoming match, further raising questions about SLC’s internal inconsistencies and governance.
With several questionable decisions and potential conflicts of interest, this incident is adding fuel to the long-standing criticisms of SLC’s administration and alleged internal mafia. How deep does the cricketing politics in Sri Lanka really run? And will this disciplinary action be a genuine inquiry or just another cover-up? The coming weeks will tell.
SOURCE :- Sanjeewa Batuwatta
