Cricket

Cricket Australia (CA) has extended its ban on former Sri Lankan Test player Dulip Samaraweera for an additional 10 years, bringing his total suspension to 30 years. The latest ban stems from allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a second player while Samaraweera was coaching.Samaraweera was initially suspended for 20 years in September 2022 after an investigation found him guilty of inappropriate behavior towards a female player. The second allegation relates to his time as a private coach while employed by Cricket Victoria.Samaraweera has denied the latest claim but declined to participate in the investigation. As a result, he has been banned for 10 years for breaching the sport's code of conduct. The ban will run concurrently with his initial 20-year suspension, meaning he will not be eligible to return to any coaching role in Australia until 2044.Neither complainant has pursued criminal charges at this time. Samaraweera had been involved in Cricket Victoria's women's program for nearly 16 years, including as an assistant coach for the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL. He resigned from his position in May 2023.Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins condemned Samaraweera's conduct as "utterly reprehensible" and "a betrayal of everything we stand for." He praised the victim for her courage in speaking out and pledged ongoing support.Samaraweera, who played seven Tests for Sri Lanka, has been an assistant coach with the Stars since the inaugural WBBL season in 2015. He also served as Victoria's interim head coach for most of the 2022-23 summer.Samaraweera was set to take over the head coach role full-time but resigned in May 2023 due to a conflict of interest policy that prevented him from hiring his brother, Thilan, to the coaching staff.

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Dulip Samaraweera has been handed a 20-year ban by Cricket Australia (CA) for "utterly reprehensible" conduct. The ban prohibits him from holding any position within CA, state associations, or Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) clubs during that period.Samaraweera, 52, was found to have breached CA's Code of Conduct during his tenure as a Cricket Victoria employee. An investigation by CA's Integrity Department was initiated following complaints about his behavior.The investigation revealed that Samaraweera had engaged in inappropriate behavior involving a player, violating section 2.23 of CA's Code of Conduct. The specific details of the behavior have not been disclosed.Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins strongly condemned Samaraweera's actions. "The conduct was utterly reprehensible and a betrayal of everything we stand for at Cricket Victoria," Cummins said. "The victim has shown incredible courage in speaking up, and we will continue to support her."CA emphasized its commitment to providing a safe environment for all players and employees. "The welfare of those subjected to mistreatment is paramount," CA stated.Samaraweera, who played seven Tests and five ODIs for Sri Lanka, had been a long-time assistant coach for the Victoria women's team and the Melbourne Stars WBBL franchise. He was promoted to the head coaching role for the Victoria women's team earlier this year but resigned after just two weeks due to a disagreement over staff appointments.The 20-year ban is a significant punishment for Samaraweera, effectively ending his coaching career in Australia. It sends a strong message that CA will not tolerate any form of misconduct or abuse within the sport.

Victoria's women's cricket team has been dealt a significant blow with the resignation of head coach Dulip Samaraweera just two weeks after his appointment. The Sri Lankan legend's departure stems from a disagreement with Cricket Victoria (CV) over a staff appointment he sought to make.Samaraweera, who represented Sri Lanka in seven Tests and five ODIs, was appointed on a two-year deal in May after serving as interim head coach since November 2022. However, his tenure was cut short due to CV's refusal to approve a specific coaching appointment he desired."During the recruitment process, Dulip had expressed a desire to make a specific coaching appointment in his support team," explained CV CEO Nick Cummins. "That appointment was unable to be facilitated due to internal policies we have in place. Following further conversations, Dulip decided he would prefer not to remain in the role."Samaraweera's resignation leaves Victoria without a permanent head coach once again. Andrew Christie, Melbourne Renegades' WBBL assistant coach, will take over the reins on an interim basis. Christie, who joined CV in 2021, has experience leading the female emerging player program.The departure of Samaraweera is a setback for Victoria, who are looking to build on their recent success in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL). The team won the WNCL title in 2021-22 and finished runners-up in 2022-23.Samaraweera's resignation highlights the importance of alignment between coaches and administrators in professional sports. When there is a disconnect between the two parties, it can lead to instability and disruption within the team.