SYDNEY: Three of the four sexual assault charges against Sri Lankan player Danushka Gunathilaka, who was accused of raping a lady last year, were dropped here on May 18.

The 32-year-old Gunathilaka was detained by Sydney police from the team hotel during the T20 World Cup in November of last year on four counts of having sex without permission.

In a Sydney court, the public prosecutor withdrew three of the charges.

The 29-year-old woman and the Sri Lankan batter met on a dating app, according to Police. Following their date, the two went back to the woman's Rose Bay house in Sydney, where Gunathilaka is accused of choking and raping her.

"Prosecutor Hugh Buddin, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court one charge had been certified but the remaining three counts of sexual intercourse without consent had been withdrawn," according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The last accusation is that the Sri Lankan participated in "forceful" sexual activity, during which he reportedly "put one hand around her neck for 20 to 30 seconds and choked her." This information was provided in the police facts sheet submitted to the Downing Centre Local Court.

Gunathilaka is accused of preventing the woman's breathing for six seconds before she "tried to remove the accused's hand by grabbing his wrist, but the accused squeezed tighter around her neck for a further 10 seconds" According to the police fact sheet, the victim "was afraid for her life and could not get away from the accused."

Gunathilaka was a member of the Sri Lankan team that competed in the T20 World Cup in 2017. He did, however, just participate in their opening match against Namibia. He was disqualified from the competition because of a torn hamstring. 

Having played for Sri Lanka in eight Tests, 47 ODIs, and 46 T20 Internationals, Gunathilaka is accustomed to controversy.Along with teammates Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella, he violated the team's bio-secure bubble during the team's tour of England in 2021 and was given a one-year suspension by SLC as a result.

He had previously received a six-month suspension from SLC in 2018 for violating the team's curfew. The same year, Gunathilaka was also sent on leave after his friend, who shall remain nameless, was charged with raping a Norwegian woman.

After learning that Gunathilaka was skipping workouts and showing up for a game without his cricket kit in 2017, the board punished him for six limited-overs contests.

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