Former Sri Lanka cricketer Dulip Samaraweera has been handed a 20-year ban by Cricket Australia (CA) after being found guilty of a serious breach of the CA Code of Conduct. The 52-year-old, who was recently appointed head coach of the Victoria women’s team, will be prohibited from holding any coaching or administrative role in CA, state associations, or Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) clubs for the next two decades.
Samaraweera, who played seven Tests and five ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1993 and 1995, was previously a long-standing assistant coach for the Victoria women’s team and the Melbourne Stars WBBL side. He resigned just two weeks into his role as Victoria women’s head coach earlier this year due to a dispute over a staffing appointment, but the conduct breach that led to the ban was unrelated to that matter.
The investigation into Samaraweera’s behavior, conducted by CA’s Integrity Department, revealed inappropriate conduct that breached section 2.23 of CA’s Code of Conduct. The alleged misconduct involved a player and was described as “utterly reprehensible.” The specifics of the incident were not disclosed, but the severity of the breach resulted in the maximum possible sanction.
Cricket Victoria CEO said
Cricket Victoria’s CEO, Nick Cummins, condemned Samaraweera’s behavior and expressed strong support for the decision made by the Code of Conduct Commission.
“We strongly support the decision taken by the Code of Conduct Commission today, banning Dulip Samaraweera for 20 years,” Cummins said. “It is our view that the conduct was utterly reprehensible and a betrayal of everything we stand for at Cricket Victoria. The victim in this case has demonstrated incredible strength of character and courage in speaking up, and we will continue to support her both on and off the field.”
Cummins reaffirmed Cricket Victoria’s commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all players and employees, stating that any behavior that compromises the well-being of their personnel would not be tolerated.
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Cricket Australia echoed these sentiments in a statement, emphasizing their commitment to the welfare of those subjected to mistreatment. “We are committed to providing a safe environment for all players and employees, and the welfare of those subjected to mistreatment is paramount,” CA stated.
This lengthy ban effectively ends Samaraweera’s coaching career in Australia, marking a significant fall from grace for the former international cricketer, who had been a respected figure within Victoria’s women’s cricket setup.
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