Gunathilaka suspended for six international matches

Sri Lanka Cricket has suspended batsman Danushka Gunathilaka for six international matches for breaching the board's Player Code of Conduct and Contractual Obligation. The offence was understood to be a serious breach of curfew during the second Test against South Africa in Colombo. Gunathilaka will also not be paid any match fees for the Test, "along with any bonus and or other payments in connection thereto," an SLC release said.

The first three matches of the six-match suspension are for Gunathilaka's current breach of the code of conduct, while the other three have been enforced from the one-year suspended sentence of a three-match ban that was in force from October 2017. He had initially been suspended for six matches last year, which was later revised to three matches. He was also fined 20% of his annual contract fee.

Gunathilaka's offence is related to a separate criminal investigation into sexual assault, which had allegedly occurred at the team hotel. The Sri Lanka Police reiterated that Gunathilaka was not a suspect in the criminal investigation, but another man, who is known to Gunathilaka, had been arrested as a suspect.

That Gunathilaka's conduct has repeatedly been an issue while he is playing for Sri Lanka will rankle with the selectors. His suspension last year had been for turning up for a match without his gear, and for having a lax attitude towards training in general. Whether he will be considered for selection even after his suspension is served remains to be seen.