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Shanaka was one of the three players who were recalled by SSC for the match against Moors, as they were trying to avoid relegation.
Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka (X)
Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka landed in trouble after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided to initiate an inquiry against him for allegedly faking a concussion to skip a domestic match to play for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20.
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Shanaka, a former white ball formats captain of Sri Lanka, left Sinhalese Sports Club’s three-day match against Moors Sports Club after playing the first two days.
“SLC and the club knew I had to leave,” Shanaka said to ESPNCricinfo.
“I only came back because there was a request from the SSC to play this first-class match. But my other team wanted me back, as I’d helped win two games for them earlier in the tournament.”
It has now been alleged that match referee Wendell Labrooy had been led to believe that Shanaka had a concussion to get a substitute approved.
“SSC (Shanaka’s first-class club) would probably be conducting their own inquiry as well,” SLC CEO Ashely De Silva told ESPNCricinfo.
Shanaka also claims that he had gotten a blow to the neck checked at a nearby hospital and then made the trip to Dubai to play in the ILT20, where another physiotherapist had cleared him to play.
He was one of the three players who were recalled by SSC for the match against Moors, as they were trying to avoid relegation.
The 33-year-old played the first two days against Moors, bowling 21 overs, and then made an unbeaten 39 at the end of day two.
Before he left the field on Day 3, Shanaka had reached 123 off 87 balls.
But the medium pacer did not bowl in Moor’s second innings and was not available for the rest of the day.
But a few hours later, Shanaka appeared for the Capitals in the ILT20 and made 34 off just 12 balls, and it was then hailed as an example of commitment to the sport even amid such a tight schedule.
Thereafter, Shanaka played three more matches as the Capitals bagged the title, beating Desert Vipres, and the Lankan made 21 off 10 balls in the chase of 190.
(with inputs from agencies)
