Sri Lanka’s cricket team were influenced by a fake PROPHET during the T20 World Cup

More details have come to light about the disastrous outing of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign, with players partying in casinos, corruption and the influence of a false prophet, an investigation has shown.

Batsman Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested just hours after the Sri Lankan tournament ended prematurely and has been charged with four counts of sexual assault on a woman in Sydney.

On Thursday, the findings of an independent panel investigating Sri Lanka’s off-field behavior during the World Cup highlighted a litany of wrongdoing among players, officials and associates.

Sri Lanka, the Asian champions, were shocked by Namibia in their opening match and failed to advance to the knockout rounds after finishing fourth in their Super 12 group.

Last year, bowler Chamika Karunaratne was fined and suspended for an unknown incident.

But the panel’s 63-page report has now revealed that he was involved in a casino brawl along with six teammates when he objected to another gambler taking his photo.

The Asian champions were eliminated in the Super 12 and suffered defeat against Namibia

Batsman Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual assault

Bowler Chamika Karunaratne was involved in a six-player fight at a casino, according to an investigation

Team manager Mahinda Halangoda told investigators that the players went to a casino for dinner because “all restaurants in Australia close after 8:00 or 8:30 pm” and the gambling venue offered the only food. available. The panel disagreed.

The five-member panel recommended that casinos be banned for players on overseas tours and that wives be allowed in their hotel rooms, a practice allowed until 2016, to ensure they don’t stray and violate team discipline. .

A former top-performing manager, Jerome Jayaratne, had no role in the team but was sent to Melbourne for 10 days and paid $7,000, according to the document seen by AFP.

The 63-page report also found that some players were influenced by a false prophet.

Jayaratne is related by marriage to the Rajapaksa family that has dominated Sri Lankan politics for decades, including the president ousted in mass protests last year.

Jayaratne brought nothing to the team on the trip and spent time with her sister, the panel reported.

Former skipper Mahela Jayawardene traveled as a “consultant coach” at the cricket board’s expense but opened a branch of his upscale Ministry of Crab restaurant chain in Australia, the panel said.

The panel has recommended that players not visit the casinos during the competition.

The investigators, led by retired Supreme Court Justice Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, called for a thorough audit of Sri Lanka’s cricket board and urged the sports minister to seize the board’s documents to ensure evidence is not destroyed. .

A man claiming to be a prophet had established considerable influence over some members of the team and key officials, the panel said, calling for a broader investigation.

Under his influence, bowler Karunaratne left an oil lamp burning in his room, despite warnings from the hotel about the risk of fire, he added.

There was no immediate comment from Sri Lanka Cricket, but Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said he will study the report and act on it to ensure team discipline and crack down on corruption.

The panel also called for better fitness among the national players.