Sri Lanka batter Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested on Sunday morning (Picture: Getty)
Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been charged over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Sydney.
Gunathilaka, 31, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Sri Lankan team hotel following a police investigation into reports a 29-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted last week.
He has been charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and denied bail at a Sydney court.
New South Wales (NSW) Police claim the pair had been in contact for several days through an online dating app before Gunathilaka is alleged to have committed sexual assault on Wednesday evening.
A NSW Police statement said: ‘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.
‘A 31-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, shortly before 1am. He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
Gunathilaka has made 101 appearances for Sri Lanka (Picture: Getty)
‘The Sri Lankan national was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court via AVL (audio visual links) on Sunday.’
A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket added: ‘Sri Lanka Cricket confirms that it was notified by the ICC that player Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested on the allegations of sexual assault of a woman in Sydney, and Mr Gunathilaka is due to appear in court tomorrow (November 7).
‘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.’
The arrest took place hours after Sri Lanka’s final game of the T20 World Cup – a four-wicket defeat to England on Saturday.
Gunathilaka was ruled out of the tournament during the first round but remained with the Sri Lanka squad in Australia.
He has made 101 appearances for Sri Lanka, representing his country in Test, ODI and T20 cricket.
MORE : T20 World Cup semi-finals confirmed after India and Pakistan wins
MORE : Virat Kohli ‘paranoid’ about his safety as strangers film his hotel room
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The 31-year-old was arrested on Sunday morning.
