Danushka Gunathilaka was accused of engaging in sexual activity without consent, and according to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), this is primarily due to his national duty at the T20 World Cup. As a result, SLC claims it will cover the cost of his legal defense in Australia. 

Additionally, it is still unclear whether Gunathilaka violated SLC’s own rules by going on a date while the team was on tour, which board CEO Ashley de Silva informed ESPNcricinfo was against the rules. SLC claims that six days after the alleged occurrence, it has not yet established if Gunathilaka violated the curfew on Wednesday, November 2, the night in question.

Danushka Gunathilaka’s Parents Probably Aren’t Able To Cover The Legal Costs: Ashley de Silva

SLC is willingly assisting Danushka Gunathilaka’s defense; it is not required by contract. De Silva is adamant, however, that the board will eventually be able to recoup the legal costs by either suspending Gunathilaka’s wages or requesting him to pay the board back. 

“This wasn’t a private visit,” de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. “He was with the team in an official capacity, so we felt we should pay the legal fees, on the condition that we can recover them from him later, whatever the results of the case. 

“His parents probably aren’t able to do that [cover the legal costs],” De Silva said further. Since the middle of 2017, Gunathilaka has played regularly for Sri Lanka’s limited-overs sides, participating in 47 ODIs, 46 T20Is, and eight Test matches. He has participated in at least three franchise T20 competitions and is also sponsored locally. 

De Silva compared SLC’s support for Danushka Gunathilaka to their support for Kusal Perera during the first half of 2016. “Just like we recovered the cost of that case, after Kusal Perera was cleared, we will do so here as well.” 

However, Perera’s case was not criminal in nature, and the SLC has never before offered formal support to a player who was facing criminal accusations. 

SLC Appoints Three-member Probe To Conduct An Independent Injury

With a hamstring injury, Danushka Gunathilaka was ruled out of the T20 World Cup on October 19, although he was still traveling with the team in Australia at the time of the alleged incident. 

De Silva responded that the board should provide support “to someone who has fallen into such a circumstance” when asked if SLC’s own reputation is damaged by its backing of a player facing such serious charges. 

De Silva wasn’t yet certain if Gunathilaka had violated the team’s own touring codes, which would often result in internal sanctions. De Silva stated that the team manager is in contact with the ICC security staff to find out whether Gunathilaka violated the curfew that evening. SLC has appointed a three-member probe to conduct a “independent inquiry.” 

SLC also refuted a senior journalist’s claim that political figures had instructed the board to foot Gunathilaka’s legal bills.

The board did this by issuing a statement on Tuesday that stated that “Sri Lanka Cricket has in no way been influenced by a ‘third party’ in carrying out the obligatory actions required to be taken to allow Mr. Danushka Gunathilaka to pursue any legal rights available to him”. 

Later in the same press statement, SLC stated that it has pursued Gunathilaka’s legal rights “in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the consulate officers.” 

On November 1st, Sydney police detained Danushka Gunathilaka and accused her of four counts of having sex without consent. She was later denied bail. Apart from a five-minute period following the arrest, when Gunathilaka spoke with the squad manager, SLC personnel hasn’t had any direct contact with the player, said de Silva. 

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