Cricket Australia has handed a 20-year ban to Dulip Samaraweera, a former Sri Lankan cricketer and head coach of the Victoria cricket team. Samaraweera, who had taken up the coaching position with Victoria only two weeks prior, resigned from his role in May, citing issues with his support staff. However, recent investigations have revealed a deeper problem, leading to his long-term suspension.
Violations of the Code of Conduct
Cricket Australia found that Samaraweera had violated its code of conduct, specifically section 2.23, which covers ethical misconduct. The cricket board expressed that maintaining a positive environment for players and staff is paramount, and any violation of this standard would not be tolerated. Although the specifics of his misconduct have not been fully disclosed, it is clear that the breach was serious enough to warrant such a significant ban.
The Story Behind Samaraweera’s Resignation
In May, Cricket Victoria’s CEO Nick Cummins commented on Samaraweera’s abrupt resignation, saying that the former cricketer wanted additional members in his coaching staff, a request that could not be fulfilled. This led to Samaraweera stepping down from his post, but the recent investigation suggests there was more behind his departure.
Who is Dulip Samaraweera?
Dulip Samaraweera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who primarily played as an opening batsman. While his international cricket career was brief, with 7 Test matches and 5 ODIs to his name, he enjoyed success in domestic cricket. He accumulated 7210 runs in 136 first-class matches with 16 centuries. His brother, Tillan Samaraweera, is also a well-known cricketer who played for Sri Lanka.
This ban marks a significant fall from grace for Samaraweera, who had been a respected figure in both Sri Lankan and Australian cricketing circles. His cricketing legacy now faces a tarnished future, with a 20-year exclusion from the sport casting a long shadow over his career.
