Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka arrested in Sydney on rape charges: Report
He came to Australia to take part in the ongoing T20 world Cup but was ruled out from the competition due to an injury.
Sri Lankan batsman Danushka Gunathilaka got arrested in Sydney for sexual assault charges on Sunday. He was with the national squad for T20 World Cup in Australia. But he was ruled out from the mega event due to an injury.
He played against Namibia in the first-round match of the ongoing T20 World Cup and scored a duck.
The sexual assault was reported at a property in Rose Bay earlier in the week.
"The woman met with the man after communicating with him for a number of days via an online dating application; it's alleged he then sexually assaulted her on the evening of November 2, 2022. As part of ongoing investigations, a crime scene examination was undertaken by specialist police at an address in Rose Bay yesterday. Following further inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, shortly before 1 am today (Sunday, November 6, 2022)," said a New South Wales police statement as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The Sri Lankan national was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court via AVL [audio visual links] today," the statement further said.
Due to a hamstring injury, Gunathilaka was forced to withdraw from the T20 World Cup in the preliminary round. He was replaced in the lineup, but he stayed in Australia with the team. Since making his debut in November 2015, he has played for Sri Lanka in eight Tests, 47 ODIs, and 46 T20Is.
After losing to England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in their final group match, Sri Lanka crashed out of the tournament on Sunday.
(With ANI Inputs)