Sri Lanka's Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella have had their one-year bans on playing international cricket lifted.
The decision from Sri Lanka Cricket comes less than six months into the suspension period, and means they are once again eligible for selection in domestic cricket as well as for their national side.
The ban was handed out after the three players were found to have breached COVID-19 bio-bubble protocols during the tour of England last year.
The players were in Durham preparing for the first of three ODIs when they left the team hotel to visit the city centre despite strict COVID-19-related rules.
Batsmen Mendis and Gunathilaka, and wicketkeeper-batsman Dickwella were sent home and hit with strong sanctions.
The executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket took into account recommendations made by an independent panel of inquiry before handing down a 12-month ban from playing at international level and a six-month domestic suspension.
All three were also fined 10million Sri Lanka Rupees (around £36,000) for their indiscretion.
However, a statement released on Friday outlined that the ban had been lifted, confirming: "Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to lift the one-year suspension imposed on the [three] players from playing international cricket, across all three formats, with immediate effect.
"The latest decision was taken following a request made by the three players to Sri Lanka Cricket to lift the ban imposed on them, pursuant to the conclusion of the LPL 2021. Based on such request, Sri Lanka Cricket obtained a report from the doctor appointed by SLC to provide counselling for the three players during their period of suspension."
Sri Lanka Cricket did also state that if the trio have any further disciplinary breaches in the next two years, the remainder of the suspension will need to be served.
"The lifted suspension will remain suspended for a period of two years, during which the three players' conduct will be closely monitored by the SLC," the release added.
"Accordingly, the three players will be able to engage in playing domestic cricket with immediate effect and will also be available for national selection, subject to complying with mandatory fitness standards."
Shai Hope, Rovman Powell secure moves up ICC T20I batting rankings
Despite a 3-1 loss to England in their recent five-match series, West Indies captain Rovman Powell and Shai Hope were both successful in making moves up the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings.
Hope, who was brought in for the last three games in St Lucia, moved 16 spots up to 21st on 599 rating points, following his half-century in the penultimate contest, and he also looked steady in the last contest before rain had the final say.
Powell, who had three tidy knocks of 43, 54, and 38 in the series, inched one place up to 33 on 575 rating points.
Though slipping three places, Nicholas Pooran remains the best-ranked West Indies batsman (624 rating points) at 12, a position he now shares with Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis and Australia’s Josh Inglis.
Brandon King is the next best Caribbean batsman on the list, though he too slipped three places to 16th on 613 rating points. Johnson Charles (587 rating points), who slipped seven spots to 26th, is the only other West Indies batsman in the top 50.
Meanwhile, India’s Hardik Pandya returned to the top of the T20I All-rounders Rankings after making significant contributions to his team’s successful, 3-1 series triumph over South Africa. It is his second time at the top of this list this year, the first time following India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup victory in the USA and West Indies.
Pandya moved two places to reach the top with 244 rating points, swapping places with England’s Liam Livingstone, who slipped to third place with 230 points, just one point shy of Nepal’s Dipendra Airee, who holds second place with 231 points.
Tilak Varma’s sensational exploits with the bat for India saw him leap 69 slots to the top 10 of the batters list for the first time, taking over third place with 806 points from his skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, who fell one spot to take fourth.
Sanju Samson also made significant gains after his remarkable back-to-back centuries, jumping 17 spaces to 22nd place among the batters.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen shot up 65 spots to reach a career-best 14th position among the all-rounders, with his captain, Aiden Markram, moving up one place to number nine. Their teammate, Tristan Stubbs, continued his rise among the batters, rising three places to 23rd.
The bowlers list saw a lot of movement as well, with Australia’s Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis making significant gains following their three-match series sweep against Pakistan. Zampa rose five slots to third place with 693 points, while Ellis mounted 15 slots to 11th on 628 points.
India’s Arshdeep Singh went up three places to ninth position (656 points), with teammate Axar Patel sailing 10 spots to 13th (632 points), while Pakistan’s Haris Rauf went from 24th to 20th with 601 points. Marco Jansen also featured with a 20-slot jump to 25th place among the bowlers with 576 points.
Sri Lanka wrap up series win as rain washes out third ODI
Sri Lanka wrapped up a 2-0 series win over New Zealand after the third ODI was rained off in Pallekele.
Will Young (56 not out) and Henry Nicholls (46 not out) had the Black Caps trundling along nicely at 112-1 after 21 overs on Tuesday, with Tim Robinson having been dismissed for nine by Mohamed Shiraz (1-23).
But the rain closed in at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, and did not let up.
Eventually, the umpires had to call off play completely, denying New Zealand the chance to restore some pride after their opening two defeats.
Data Debrief: Rain sees the good run roll on
Sri Lanka have lost only one of their last nine ODIs (W6 T1) – an eight-wicket loss against West Indies (26 October 2024).
New Zealand's Young at least was able to celebrate a ninth ODI half-century, while Nicholls fell just short of a 17th 50 in the format.
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
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