The Chronicle

SHOCK AS CRICKET STAR CHARGED

- BEN HORNE AND MARK MORRI

SRI Lankan World Cup cricket star Danushka Gunathilak­a has been charged following the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Sydney’s east.

Just hours after Sri Lanka’s loss to England at the SCG on Saturday night sent Australia crashing out of the World Cup, police swooped on the Sri Lankan team hotel on Sussex St and arrested Gunathilak­a shortly before 1am.

It is understood the Sri

Lanka team was about to board a bus for the airport ahead of its flight home when the arrest was made.

It’s alleged a 29-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted at a residence in Rose Bay last week.

Gunathilak­a has been charged with four counts of sexual assault without consent and refused bail ahead of an appearance at Parramatta Bail Court.

Sri Lankan teammates flew home on Sunday morning without the allrounder Gunathilak­a who was injured three weeks ago, but was kept around with the squad.

Head of the NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Detective Superinten­dent Jayne Doherty said the pair was matched on a dating app on October 29.

She said they communicat­ed on various platforms including text message, voicemail and video calling for several days before they met up on Wednesday, November 2.

“They met for prearrange­d drinks, had something to eat and went back to the woman’s home,” said Detective Superinten­dent Doherty.

It is there that police allege Gunathilak­a sexually assaulted the woman four times over a number of hours. “The woman had taken all precaution­s, she met in a public place, it was just unfortunat­e,” Detective Superinten­dent Doherty said.

Gunathilak­a has played eight Tests, 47 one day internatio­nals and 46 T20 internatio­nals for Sri Lanka.

 ?? ?? Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilak­a was charged with four counts of sexual assault without consent.
Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilak­a was charged with four counts of sexual assault without consent.

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