After an Independent Inquiry Committee exonerated cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka of all charges, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) overturned the player’s ban on Tuesday.
The IIC had suggested reducing Gunathilaka’s suspension, which prevented him from engaging in any cricket-related activities, after he was accused of sexual misconduct in Australia in November 2022.
After 11 months of travel restrictions in Australia, the left-handed hitter was cleared of all allegations brought against him in the District Court of New South Wales last month.
Following a complaint of sexual assault by an Australian national, which resulted in legal and criminal procedures, the SLC banned Gunathilaka from playing cricket.
During the whole incident Danushka Gunathilaka, the player was traveling with the Sri Lankan T20I team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022.
After conducting an inquiry, the committee, which was led by former High Court Judge Sisira Ratnayake and included Mr. Niroshana Perera and Mr. Asela Rekawa, asked the board to immediately withdraw the cricket suspension and permit the resumption of all activities, including being eligible for national selection.
During a meeting on October 13, the executive committee approved the suggestion and gave the player a warning about acting appropriately when representing the country in public.
The 32-year-old has amassed 2,641 runs with two centuries and sixteen fifties in his participation in eight Tests, 47 One-Day Internationals (ODI), and 46 Twenty20 Internationals.