Cricket Australia (CA) has banned former Sri Lankan Test player Dulip Samaraweera for 20 years after he “committed a serious breach” of the organisation’s code of conduct.

Samaraweera is banned from holding any position within CA or a state or territory association, including any WBBL or BBL teams.

CA’s conduct commission found Samaraweera engaged in “inappropriate behaviour” while he was employed by Cricket Victoria (CV).

“CA and CV are committed to providing a safe environment for all players and employees and the welfare of those subjected to mistreatment is paramount,” a CA statement read.

CV also released a statement, saying it “strongly” supported CA’s decision to ban Samaraweera, who had worked with the state women’s program.

“It is our view that the conduct was utterly reprehensible and a betrayal of everything we stand for at Cricket Victoria,” CV chief executive Nick Cummins said.

“The victim in this case has demonstrated incredible strength of character and courage in speaking up. She will continue to receive our ongoing support to allow her to achieve her goals on and off the field.”

Cummins added: “From an organisation perspective, the safety and wellbeing of everyone at Cricket Victoria is paramount.

“We will not tolerate any behaviour which compromises that position, or our people, and will always support our culture of speaking up.”

Samaraweera was appointed head coach of the Victorian women’s team in May but resigned later that month prior to commencing the role.

He had previously served as acting head coach.

Samaraweera had joined CV in 2008 as a specialist batting coach.

He played seven Tests for Sri Lanka between 1993 and 1995 and appeared in five ODIs during his playing career.

(ABC)

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be the first ICC event where women will receive the same prize money as their male counterparts, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s history. The decision was taken at the ICC Annual Conference in July 2023, when the ICC Board took the step of reaching its prize money equity target seven years ahead of its schedule of 2030, making cricket the only major team sport to have equal prize money for its men’s and women’s World Cup events.

The winners of the tournament, which will now be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will receive US$2.34million, a massive, 134 per cent increase on the $1 million awarded to Australia when they clinched the title in South Africa in 2023.

The runners-up will receive $1.17 million, an increase of 134 per cent in comparison to the $500, 000 South Africa received for reaching the final on home soil at Newlands Cricket Ground.

The two losing semi-finalists will earn $675, 000 (up from $210 000 in 2023), with the overall prize pot totalling $7,958,080, a massive increase of 225 per cent from last year’s total fund of $2.45 million.

This move is in line with the ICC’s strategy to prioritise the women’s game and accelerate its growth by 2032. Teams will now receive equal prize money for the equivalent finishing position at comparable events as well as the same amount for winning a match at those events. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 event prize money is only higher on account of 10 additional teams participating and 32 more matches played.

Each win during the group stages will see teams take home $31,154, while the six teams who fail to reach the semi-finals will share a pool of $1.35 million depending on their finishing positions.

In comparison, the equivalent pool for the six teams in 2023 was $180,000, shared equally. Teams who finish third or fourth in their group will take $270,000 each while the teams who finish fifth in their group will both receive $135,000.

All 10 participating teams are assured of $112,500.

The increase in prize money for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 comes in line with the prize pot for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 also increasing to $3.5 million in total.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will open on 3 October with Bangladesh taking on Scotland at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. There has been a minor change to the match order for the double header on Saturday 5 October in Sharjah, with Australia now facing Sri Lanka in the afternoon at 14h00, followed by the Bangladesh versus England match taking the evening slot at 18h00 local time. Ten teams will play 23 matches in Dubai and Sharjah to decide the 2024 champions.

(ICC)

Three young weightlifters will represent Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Senior, Junior, and Youth Weightlifting Championships 2024, held from September 17-24 in Suva, Fiji. 

Competing among 300 athletes from nearly 30 countries, the Sri Lankan team includes Ashen Karunarathna (61 kg) from Wesley College, Pasindu Malawana (81 kg) from the University of Colombo, and Abidh Jameel (96 kg) from Trinity College.