Vandersay sent home on disciplinary grounds

By Champika Fernando
Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has been recalled home  from the West Indies on disciplinary grounds.

The board did not specify the exact nature of the incident which led to the Lankan leg spinner's expulsion ahead of the third and final Test in Barbados but mirrorcricket.lk can confirm it was related to a late night out by the player concerned.

The fact that another player has been drawn into off-filed controversy is a huge embarrassment for Sri Lanka and is the last thing they needed following the ball-tampering saga involving national skipper Dinesh Chandimal that has overshadowed the tour.

Chandimal remained suspended for the third and final Test and likely to miss the whole or part of the South African series along with team coach and manager for holding up play for two hours. Trio has admitted to the offence and will face hearing on July 10.

Sri Lankan players have been subject to a midnight curfew for many years. However the Sunday Times reliably learns that while the rest of the players had returned to the hotel in time, Vandersay has gone missing until next day morning. With Vandersay missing, the team management has lodged a police complaint.

Vandersay has later returned to the hotel and had said he could not remember what happened to him. He has also lost his mobile phone sources said.

“He is returning on disciplinary grounds,” confirmed Ashley de Silva CEO Sri Lanka Cricket refusing to divulge any further information to the incident. He will now likely to face a local inquiry and could even face a ban.

Vandersay, 28 has been identified as future prospect specially at a time when country’s premier spinner Rangana Herath is nearing the end of his international career and was drafted into the side in order to give him the required exposure and experience. He is yet to make his Test debut even though he has represented Sri Lanka few times in limited over cricket in the recent past.

Vandersay has a history of disciplinary issues. Most recently he was pulled out of the India tour for not showing up for domestic matches without a reason.