09 Nov 2022 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Harsha Amarasinghe
Sri Lanka for the first time in many years, have got a consistent bunch of players. They may have not made it to World Cup semi-finals this year, but given what Sri Lanka has been through over the course last five years or so, the performances have certainly improved.
Despite the strict fitness policies that have been introduced, the players keep getting injured in big tournaments. Of course, certain injuries are unavoidable as it’s a physical game but for some reasons Sri Lanka seem to lose top players in big tournaments.
The early loss of rookie paceman Dilshan Madushanka was a huge blow for Sri Lanka as he was ruled out of the World Cup just before the start of it, and then the spearhead Dushmantha Chameera got injured during Sri Lanka’s game against United Arab Emirates. Throughout the tournament Sri Lanka had further injuries to Pramod Madushan, Danushka Gunathilaka as well as Pathum Nissanka. It’s hard to win a tournament with such a huge amount of injuries to key players.
What is surprising though is that this is something which has been continuing for a long time. Even in the 50-over World Cup in 2015 Sri Lanka had quite a few injuries including Dinesh Chandimal, Dhammika Prasad, Dimuth Karunaratne and Jeewan Mendis. Whenever, there is a major tournament outside the subcontinent Sri Lanka seem to have far too many injuries and that has cost a lot already.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) need to address this issue as players need to get used to cooler conditions. Teams like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh don’t seem to have issue with regard to this and Sri Lanka must find a solution.
Was Gunathilaka framed in Sydney?
While Danushka Gunathilaka came under huge amount of criticism following his off field antics in Sydney where he had sexual assault allegations from a woman he had met through online dating, the whole incident does now look like a set-up against an international cricketer.
Gunathilaka cannot give any excuses for his actions as a professional cricketer, but the sexual assualt allegations appear to be slightly unfair.
He has been charged under four counts including sexual assault without consent, physical abuse and injury, forcible entry and trespassing as well as second act of assault without consent. Gunathilaka has pled that all activities he had engaged in were consensual. If that stands in court he walks away and experts believe that’s likely to be the case.
However, his career as a Sri Lanka international looks all but over. SLC must take stern decision against Gunathilaka as he has had a disciplinary issue not so long ago in England as well.
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