Coach banned for 20 years, tried to have relationship with female cricketer

In a first of its kind judgement, a domestic coach and a former cricketer has been banned for twenty years for ‘inappropriate’ behavior towards a female cricketer. The coach is question is former Sri Lanka cricketer Dulip Samaraweera, who had been working with Victoria females’s cricket team.

Nevertheless the Australian cricket board, Cricket Australia (CA), have banned him for twenty years for breaching code of conduct by his ‘utterly reprehensible’ behavior at some point of his stint with the side. Samaraweera, who played seven Tests and five ODIs for Sri Lanka and first joined Cricket Victoria as a batting coach in 2008, was banned following an investigation by Cricket Australia’s Integrity Department.

“Following an investigation by Cricket Australia’s Integrity department, the case was referred to the Conduct Commission. Samaraweera was found to have committed a ‘serious breach’ of clause 2.23 of the CA’s Code of Conduct, which concerns conduct ‘contrary to the spirit of cricket, is unbecoming of a representative or official, is or may additionally be harmful to the interests of cricket, or does or may possibly bring the game of cricket into disrepute’,” a CA statement read.

Dulip Samaraweera Sri Lanka Ex cricketer receives a 20 year ban from Cricket Australia. Commission found Samaraweera had engaged in inappropriate behaviour that breached section 2.23 of CA’s Code of Conduct. The behaviour is supposed to have been involving a player. #SriLanka p.c.twitter.com/KKM9e2qDBt

— Ceylon X (@CeylonX6) September 19, 2024

Consistent with Cricket Australia web site online, the fifty two-year-old will now now not be allowed to hold any position within the cricketing set-up Down Lower than for the following twenty years. In an announcement, Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins backed the ban and lauded the victim for pursuing her case.

He did now now not give the specifics of the incident that resulted in this end result but a ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ report, quoting sources, said the Sri Lankan was accused of ‘coercive relationship with a player’. “It is miles our view that the conduct was utterly reprehensible and a betrayal of the total lot we stand for at Cricket Victoria,” Cummins said.

“The victim on this case has demonstrated incredible strength of character and courage in speaking up. She can continue to receive our ongoing make stronger to allow her to achieve her goals on and off the sphere,” he added.

Samaraweera, who is yet to react to the verdict, was appointed period in-between head coach of the team in November last year ahead of taking the position full-time in May this year. He resigned within two weeks of that elevation. He was also an assistant coach with Females’s Big Bash League side Melbourne Stars.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association supported CA’s verdict. “These are extremely serious findings which may shock and upset many within the cricket community,” said ACA chief executive Todd Greenberg.

(with PTI inputs)