Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis has been arrested by the police in Horethuduwa for running over a pedestrian, who eventually succumbed to his injuries, with his car early on Sunday morning.
Mendis’s car hit a 64-year-old man who was traveling on a bicycle early morning on July 5 in the Colombo suburb of Panadura. The man was a local resident who died as he was being admitted to hospital, according to reports.
Mendis is set to be produced before a magistrate later today, police said. It is yet to be ascertained whether either of the two were under the influence of alcohol or not.
The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has played 44 Tests, 76 ODIs and 26 T20Is for Sri Lanka. He has amassed 2995 runs in Tests at 36.97, 2167 runs in ODIs at 30.52 and 484 runs in the shortest format of the game in international cricket.
Mendis was part of the national squad which had resumed training after the COVID-19 lockdown. Sri Lanka’s international assignments, including a tour by India, have been cancelled due to the pandemic.
Mendis’s arrest is another massive blow for Sri Lanka cricket which is already embroiled in controversy following allegations of match-fixing in the 2011 World Cup final.
Former Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage alleged that the final, which India won, was fixed by “certain parties” in Sri Lanka.
Three former captains – Aravinda de Silva (chairman of selectors during the 2011 World Cup), Kumar Sangakkara (captain) and Mahela Jayawardene (centurion in the final) – were questioned by the police as part of the investigation, which was ultimately halted by the Sri Lankan Sports Ministry due to insufficient evidence.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also said there is no reason to doubt the integrity of the 2011 World Cup final in which India defeated Sri Lanka, asserting that it has not been provided any evidence that would merit an investigation into the game.
“We have no reason to doubt the integrity of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final 2011,” ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit General Manager Alex Marshall said in a statement.
“The ICC Integrity Unit has looked into the recent allegations regarding the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final 2011,” Marshall said.
The former Sri Lankan Sports Minister’s claims that the ICC was sent a letter alleging fixing was also rubbished by Marshall.