Vithanage under microscope after going AWOL

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Sri Lanka batsman Kithruwan Vithanage faces disciplinary action, and is under investigation, after sneaking out of the team hotel in Galle during the first Test against Pakistan, and his whereabouts are unclear.

Sri Lanka batsman Kithruwan Vithanage faces disciplinary action, and is under investigation, after sneaking out of the team hotel in Galle during the first Test against Pakistan, and his whereabouts are unclear.

Vithanage did not ask permission to leave the hotel, and though he later said he went to a religious ceremony, there was speculation that he was involved with match fixing. As such, the SLC will have a disciplinary hearing on 2 September. There have been no reports to the ICC about any fixing allegations though.

It was revealed that coach Marvan Atapattu and skipper Angelo Mathews both wanted the player removed from the team, but SLC selection boss Sanath Jayasuriya convinced them to keep him in the side.

Team manager Michael de Zoysa had written an email to Jayasuriya about the incident, which was apparently not the first time the player had been discussed in terms of poor behaviour.

The email said: "I brought to your notice that the above player had left the Hotel at around 7pm on the 8th evening and returned on the 9th morning at around 6.30am. He had not got my permission or kept me informed of his actions.

"He was told that both the Coach and Captain did not want him in the squad, but you gave him a final chance. I trust he will take the chance you have given him.

"You took it up very seriously and warned him in my presence that any repetition would see him face disciplinary action. He was reminded of his behaviour on the flight to UK and also his problem in Bangladesh."

Of the player's explanation, De Zoysa wrote: "He apologized and said he had gone home for a Bana and Pirith ceremony in a Temple."

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