Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has suspended Danushka Gunathilaka for six white-ball matches for misconduct. This is why the opening batsman was omitted from Sri Lanka's squad for the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE. He has also been fined.
ESPNcricinfo understands Gunathilaka missed a training session, turned up to a match without his gear, and was generally found to have had an indifferent attitude towards training - all during Sri Lanka's recent home series against India. One other player had also been pulled up about his off-field behaviour, but has received only a warning, as unlike Gunathilaka, SLC believed he had displayed full commitment to training and matches.
Cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha is believed to have initially brought the issue to SLC's notice, before the board's CEO Ashley de Silva made further inquiries. "The board had asked the selectors not to consider Danushka for six white-ball games," Gurusinha said. "Yes, is for disciplinary reasons that they made that decision."
Gunathilaka's absence in the ODI squad had been something of a surprise, given he has averaged 42.41 in ODIs this year. This is his first serious case of misconduct. The board is expected to make a further statement on the matter.