Sanctions imposed on players for Dambulla fracas

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) appears to have cracked the whip on the players involved in the disciplinary breaches during Monday’s tri-series clash in Dambulla. Cricbuzz understands that Pradeep Jeyapragash, the match referee for the tempers-marred contest between Sri Lanka A and India A, has announced sanctions on the players involved, with Vishen Halambage believed to be among the principal recipients of the punishment.

Interestingly, Jeyapragash, a former Sri Lankan fast bowler, also imposed a fine on Niroshan Dickwella, who curiously enough, was the peace-maker in the Halambage-Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bust-off. However, it is understood that the sanction on the Sri Lanka A wicketkeeper was for a separate offence and not directly related to the altercation, an incident that has attracted international focus because of its unsavoury nature. The exact nature of Dickwella’s breach, though, is not clear. It could have been for excessive appealing.

It remains unclear whether any sanctions have also been imposed on Sooryavanshi, the Indian prodigy who was seen getting physical with Halambage after the conclusion of the ill-tempered contest, which Sri Lanka A won in near-darkness. Text messages to the India A team management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had not elicited a response at the time of publication.

It is learnt that there was no formal hearing as such, and Jeyapragash (42), who played his only international match in 2005 against India, imposed the sanctions based on the reports of the on-field umpires. Incidentally, Jeyapragash’s lone international appearance was an ODI at the very same venue where this match was played.

Meanwhile, there is a sense of regret within the Sri Lankan cricket community over the way events unfolded on Monday evening. Sources say the disappointment is exactly not over the incident itself, but also over the fact that an altercation between Indian and Sri Lankan players took place on Sri Lankan soil.

The sanctions, it is learnt, were imposed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and, as reported by Cricbuzz earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has no role in the matter. A text message sent to an SLC spokesperson remained unanswered.

Bahutule says Sooryavanshi will learn with experience

On Tuesday evening, the Indian Senior team management weighed in on the incident involving Sooryavanshi. “I think it was an unfortunate incident. But we don’t know how he was provoked,” Team India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said in Lucknow.

“Because as far as I know Vaibhav, he is a very composed boy. I’m sure there are experienced coaches there who will make him understand. And I think the Sri Lankan players should also be educated in terms of how they need to behave. And so does it go with us. We will make sure that information is given to him as to why that happened. But he will learn. He’s a young kid and going forward, some sort of understanding will be there with him. I’m sure he will not repeat it.”

Bahutule was speaking ahead of India’s second ODI in Lucknow on Wednesday. Incidentally, India A are also scheduled to face Afghanistan A in Dambulla on the same day.

Sanctions imposed on players for Dambulla fracas

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