SL duo cleared of misconduct

Sri Lanka cricketers Avishka Gunawardene and Kaushal Lokuarachchi have been cleared of misconduct during the ICC Champions Trophy last year, officials said on Thursday.

An official disciplinary inquiry had been launched after the tournament into allegations in a local Sunday newspaper of drunken misconduct during Sri Lanka's rain-affected first round match against England.

But a disciplinary panel, chaired by Michael de Zoysa, could find no evidence or witnesses to corroborate the allegations and cleared the players of any wrongdoing.

"No one was prepared to give evidence and there was absolutely no evidence to substantiate the article's allegations," Sri Lanka Cricket's chief executive Duleep Mendis said.

Gunawardene, 27, a hard-hitting opener, and Lokuarachchi, a 22-year-old leg spinning all rounder, were dropped from the national squad after Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan in October.