Sri Lanka Cricket send three players home and suspend them from all cricket pending investigation into Covid-19 bio-security breach

Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka were captured on video strolling around Durham late on Sunday evening, following the team's arrival in the north east

Sri Lanka Cricket have removed three players from their one-day international squad for the upcoming series against England, sent them home and suspended them from all cricket pending an investigation into a possible breach of bio-security regulations.

Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka were captured on video strolling around Durham late on Sunday evening, following the team's arrival in the north east.

Both videos were posted to social media, leading SLC to act.

Team manager Manuja Kariyapperum delivered a report on the incident to the SLC executive committee on Monday, with the decision then taken to bring the trio home and suspend them from all cricket until the full inquiry is complete. 

The pair were alone in a public open place in the city, but may still find themselves in hot water if they are found to have contravened rules relating to player movement.

Reports in Sri Lanka have suggested the players were told not to leave their hotel base, with Durham having recently seen a rise in Covid-19 cases - as is the case in many UK regions following the recent relaxation of restrictions and the growth of the strain of the virus first identified in India, also known as the Delta variant.

Familiar faces in Durham tonight, enjoying their tour! Obviously not here to play cricket, this video was taken at 23.28 Sunday. Disappointing performance by these cricket players but not forgetting to enjoy their night at Durham. RIP #SrilankaCricket #KusalMendis #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/eR15CWHMQx

— Nazeer Nisthar (@NazeerNisthar) June 28, 2021

Sri Lanka's tour of England only went ahead after the players agreed to represent their country without any guarantees of payment for the tour, having rejected SLC's new contracts - which offer lower salaries and more performance-based incentives. 

They subsequently lost the three-match T20I series 3-0 and have been heavily criticised for their performances back home. 

The first one-day international of a three-game campaign is due to take place in Durham on Tuesday, despite match referee Phil Whitticase testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

Whitticase had officiated during the T20I series, and is now in mandatory 10-day isolation.

Seven other individuals from the match officials and anti-corruption teams, including five who were due to officiate the ODI on Tuesday, were also told to isolate after being deemed in close contact with Whitticase.

Neither England nor Sri Lanka's players were affected.