Relief for Sri Lankan cricketer: Gunathilaka found innocent in Australia
Cricket
The 32-year-old batsman was arrested in November last year
(AFP) - Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka was cleared of sexual assault in Sydney on Thursday, saying outside the court that he “can’t wait” to play again.
The 32-year-old batsman was arrested in November last year just hours after his country lost to England in their final Twenty20 World Cup match in Australia.
He was initially accused of four counts of sexual intercourse without consent after arranging to meet a woman at a bar near the Sydney Opera House through a dating app.
Three of those charges were dropped in May.
On the remaining count, Judge Sarah Huggett found him not guilty, according to a document provided by the New South Wales District Court in Sydney.
“The last 11 months have been really hard for me,” Gunathilaka told reporters outside the court.
“Everyone believed me, so that means a lot to me,” he said.
