7 August 2023 08:20 pm
Kusal Mendis and Chamika Karunaratne were among four players who were fined for a breach of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) Code of Conduct.
A video of an altercation between Mendis and Karunaratne on August 5 was circulated on social media last week, and the incident has drawn the ire of the match officials.
Dambulla captain Mendis was issued a 10 percent fine of his match fee and given a one demerit point.
Karunaratne has ostensibly been seen as more of the aggressor in the incident, fined 30 percent of his match fee and given two demerit points under clause 2.6 of the LPL Code of Conduct, and an additional 25 percent fine and one demerit point under Clause 2.21 of the Code of Conduct.
Mendis’ teammate Hasan Ali was also fined 15 percent of his match fee and given one demerit point.
Cited in a separate incident, Pakistan’s Naseem Shah, who is playing for the Colombo Strikers, was charged with a fine of 20 percent of his match fee and given one demerit point under clause 2.5 of the LPL Code of Conduct.
While not specifying the exact nature of the clauses cited in reprimanding the players, LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela confirmed to the Daily Mirror that they relate to the players bringing the game into disrepute.
He was charged for an incident that occurred on July 30, in a match between the Jaffna Kings and the Colombo Strikers played in Colombo.
All four of the players admitted to the offenses.
(Shehan Daniel)