Former international cricket star under investigation amid allegations of serious misconduct towards female player

Former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Dulip Samaraweera is facing a Cricket Australia probe amid allegations of serious misconduct towards a female player.

As first reported by the Herald Sun, ex-Victoria women’s cricket coach Samaraweera has been accused of alleged historic conduct relating to the woman, who played at a professional level. 

Cricket Australia’s integrity department is dealing with the matter, with the same outlet reporting that a code of conduct hearing will take place in due course. 

The 52-year-old former cricketer was in line to take up a coaching role with Australia A women’s team during their series against India A, but was stood down once the allegations came to light.

‘Cricket Victoria are unable to comment on the proceedings as they are currently underway, we will make comment on the proceedings at the appropriate time,’ Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins told the Herald Sun. 

After retiring as a player, Samaraweera moved to Australia where he has coached for more than a decade. 

He played five Test matches and seven one-day internationals for his country.

Samaraweera worked as an assistant coach in the Victoria women’s team as well as the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL. 

The 52-year-old was promoted to head coach of the Victoria women’s team last year but left the role after just two weeks in charge.

The Herald Sun reports that his exit was related to his desire to hire his brother – Thilan Samaraweera – as the team’s batting coach, in breach of CV’s conflict of interest rules.  

Andrew Christie is now the coach of Victoria’s women’s team.

Samaraweera, the same outlet reports, has a strong professional rapport with a number of the state’s top players, with some initially lobbying for him to keep his role as a batting coach when he departed.

He has not publicly addressed the allegations at the time of publication.