• From Sri Lanka’s most eligible bachelor to alleged womaniser 

It is 24 June 2022, the fifth One Day International (ODI) and dead rubber against Australia at the Khettarama Stadium. Sri Lanka are in deep trouble at six for 61 and in comes Chamika Karunaratne at No. 8 to join his captain Dasun Shanaka in the middle. 

Shanaka loses his wicket two balls later, stranding Karunarathne with the tail. With his back against the wall, Karunaratne produces a gem of a knock to take Sri Lanka to a total of 160. His knock of 75 earns him a deserving Man of the Match (MoM) award despite Sri Lanka losing the game. It was his second MoM award in his career and the series. Who would have thought that it would become his last ODI game for the country, at least for some time? 

There is no doubt that Karunaratne is a fan favourite. He thrives off the energy from his fans and there is no other cricketer in the country who has been featured on TikTok more than he has. He is not like the rest; he is that one player who will throw himself around the pitch, roll over his hand when the captain needs him, and use the long handle at the death overs. 

At the World Cup Down Under, Karunaratne was nowhere close to his best. His bowling was off and he struggled to pitch in with the bat, but the biggest disappointment was his off-field performance during the tour. 

Alleged brawl at a casino 

A three-member panel inquiring into the alleged violations by Karunaratne found him guilty of breaching several clauses in the player agreement. Karunaratne pleaded guilty to all charges levelled against him and was handed a one-year suspended ban from all forms of cricket. Further to the said suspended sentence, a fine of $ 5,000 was also imposed against the cricketer.

The biggest allegation against him at the time of his sentencing was an alleged brawl at a casino in Melbourne, to which he had reportedly pleaded guilty to having had an argument, not a brawl per se.  

In the meantime, when the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Selection Committee released the squad for the Afghanistan tour, the Sports Minister had one major concern. On what grounds did they omit Karunaratne? 

The Minister and the National Sports Council Chairman were of the same understanding that he was omitted due to his performances in the format. However, SLC responded by stating that his performances during the World Cup weren’t up to their expectations. A former Junior National Selector speaking to The Morning Sports said that selectors should always focus on the given format when selecting a squad. 

All these facts remained true and valid up until last Wednesday (30 November), when a letter written by National Selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe surfaced with further allegations against Karunaratne. 

Lack of commitment and a womaniser 

In the letter addressed to SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva, Wickramasinghe claimed that Karunaratne had lost his focus and was keener on certain “extracurricular” activities. The most serious allegation was that Karunaratne had faked illness to skip training and welcomed women into his hotel room. Wickramasinghe also requested SLC to check CCTV footage to verify the allegation. 

If this allegation proves true, it would be a real shame. In that case, Karunaratne should not be disappointed over his axing from the team, but, as they always say, there are always two sides to the story. 

Sources close to Chamika deny allegations

Players who are under contract with SLC are not permitted to speak to the media or to anyone regarding cricket matters. We all remember what took place when Bhanuka Rajapaksa spoke to the media. All these allegations, apart from the alleged brawl at the casino, are based on a letter sent by Wickramasinghe. Unfortunately, Karunaratne cannot speak for himself. 

Sources close to him have denied these allegations and claim there is an ulterior motive behind his axing. However, the Minister once again intervened and appointed a new committee to investigate all the incidents that took place in Australia. The panel consists of Retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardane, former Sports Ministry Secretary Kingsley Fernando, retired Deputy General Police Rear Admiral Ananda Pieris, former cricketer Naleenda Alwis, and Attorney Shalini Roshana Fernando. 

Gossip sites going to town with the news 

SLC has been at the forefront of gossip-driven media due to all these allegations. When it comes to Karunaratne’s case, these media sites claim that his religious beliefs are the reason for his axing. There is no base for these claims, and SLC has vehemently denied such allegations. 

Clouded by doubt, there are only a few facts in place. Karunaratne doesn’t deserve to be dropped from the ODI format given his past performances, but if Pramodya Wickramasinghe’s claims are true, Karunaratne should be held accountable. 

However, big questions still remain. How did this confidential letter get leaked to the public? Why is all the focus on Karunaratne while an alleged rapist is still on bail in Australia? Why aren’t any other allegations being addressed as quickly as those with regard to Karunaratne?