Some hope for Lokuarachchi

Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Sri Lanka's promising new legspinning allrounder, may be allowed to resume his first-class career as cricket authorities consider easing a playing ban for misconduct.

Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) management committee will consider an appeal from Lokuarachchi's club, Bloomfield C&AC, at their weekly meeting on Wednesday night.

Bloomfield have requested that he be allowed to participate in the ongoing domestic Premier tournament so that he can prepare himself for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in February next year, according to SLC secretary Mohan de Silva.

De Silva said the appeal has been referred to the disciplinary committee who may allow Lokuarachchi to return to domestic cricket but not lift the ban.

Lokuarachchi is currently serving a four-month international and domestic ban from all levels of cricket conducted by SLC and a two-year suspended sentence imposed by SLC from last month.

He is however allowed to participate at practices with the national team, although the ban will prevent him from being selected for the home series against England next month.

Lokuarachchi (21) is facing charges in court for causing a fatal accident in a car driven by him where a mother was killed and her son seriously injured at a bus stand in Kadawatha. He has represented Sri Lanka in three Tests and five one-day internationals.