SLC Clarifies No Drinking Party Was Held At Sri Lanka Team’s Hotel During T20 WC

Sri Lanka cricket accused of drinking ahead of WC clash vs SA (X.com)

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has strongly refuted recent reports alleging that members of the national cricket team were involved in a drinking party at their team hotel in New York ahead of a crucial T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka had a forgettable tournament at the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup as they crashed out of the group stages with just 1 victory in four games.

Meanwhile, a controversy erupted following a media report claiming that several Sri Lankan players were seen engaging in a late-night drinking session inside their hotel just hours before the significant World Cup game against South Africa in New York.

As per the report quoted by India Today, three top order Sri Lankan batters, along with a star all-rounder, a veteran fast bowler, assistant coach and popular player manager drank alcohol late night on June 2 at the team hotel.

The report suggested that this behaviour was unbecoming of professional athletes and violated ICC rules and regulations as well.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket has come forward to categorically deny the allegations, labelling them as false and malicious. 

SLC confirmed that no such unruly incident occurred at Sri Lanka’s New York team hotel, and the allegations are false, fabricated, and baseless, orchestrated to malign the image of Sri Lanka cricket and its players.

“SLC categorically and strongly refutes the contents of the article and confirms that no such incidents, as described, have occurred. Therefore, SLC states unequivocally that the news report is entirely false, fabricated, and baseless,” SLC statement read.

Notably, Sri Lanka was bundled for 77 runs batting first at the tricky Nassau County Stadium pitch before South Africa chased down the nothing total comfortably in the 17th over.