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Danushka Gunathilaka, a Sri Lankan cricketer, was arrested and charged on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney, police said, just hours after the national team lost to England in the Twenty20 World Cup.
Gunathilaka suffered a hamstring injury during the first round of the World Cup but remained with the team in Australia.
“Sex crimes squad detectives have charged a Sri Lankan national following an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Sydney’s east last week,” New South Wales police said in a statement.
Sri Lanka’s cricket board confirmed the man’s identity as Gunathilaka, 31.
“Sri Lanka Cricket confirms that it was notified by the ICC (International Cricket Council) that player Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested on the allegations of sexual assault of a woman in Sydney,” it said in a statement.
“SLC will closely monitor the proceedings in court and, in consultation with the ICC, will expeditiously initiate a thorough inquiry into the matter and take stern action against the player if found guilty.”
Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of Sunday at a hotel in Sydney and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
According to police, the couple met after communicating for several days on a dating app.
Gunathilaka was denied bail and will appear in Waverley Court in Sydney on Monday. According to police, they will seek to have bail denied once more.
“The pair met up in Sydney at a pre-arranged meeting,” Detective Superintendent Jane Doherty, commander of the New South Wales state Sex Crimes Squad, told reporters.
“They had drinks and went for something to eat before going back to the young lady’s home. Police will allege that whilst they’re in the home the male assaulted the female a number of times whilst performing sexual acts upon her.”
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