Niroshan Dickwella suspended indefinitely: Report

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has indefinitely suspended 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella on the charge of doping violations. 

Niroshan Dickwella has failed a doping test during the recently completed Lanka Premier League 2024. He failed to maintain the World Anti-Doping guidelines. As a result, Dickwella has now been suspended from all forms of cricket. His suspension will continue until further notice. 

The suspension is effective immediately: SLC on Niroshan Dickwella's suspension

SLC media release claimed, "The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

"The test, which was conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024, is part of SLC's ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport.

"This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, is aimed at ensuring that cricket remains free from the influence of prohibited substances.

"SLC, together with the Ministry of Sports and SLADA, conducts these tests during domestic tournaments randomly to safeguard the sport against anti-doping violations."

Niroshan Dickwella was the captain of the Galle Marvels at the LPL 2024. Under his leadership, the Galle Marvels finished as the runners-up, as they lost the final against the Jaffna Kings.

During the LPL 2024, Dickwella scored 184 runs in 10 games with an average of 18.40 and a strike rate of 153.33. He scored one half-century during that tournament. 

Niroshan Dickwella is not a new name in the controversy

Dickwella is not a new name in the controversy. During the Sri Lanka tour of England in 2021, he was suspended along with Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka for breaching the team’s bio-secure bubble. He has also received multiple fines for his disciplinary issues in the Sri Lankan jersey. 

Dickwella, who made international cricket debut in 2014, last played for Sri Lanka in March 2023. He has played 54 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20Is, where the left-handed batter scored 2757, 1604, and 480 runs, respectively. 

During the Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh early this year, Dickwella joined the T20I squad as a replacement for Kusal Perera. However, he was never selected in the playing XIs.