Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka refused bail on rape charges during T20 World Cup

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Sri Lankan cricket star accused of raping his Tinder date four times at her home is refused bail as he shows his face in court and his lawyer reveals how he reacted to his arrest

  • Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka charged over alleged sexual assault 
  • Injured star was preparing to leave Sydney when arrested at team’s CBD hotel
  • Gunathilaka spent Sunday night in police holding cells and faced court Monday
  • He is accused of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman at a Rose Bay home

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka will remain behind bars after being charged with raping a woman in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs during the T20 World Cup.   

Gunathilaka unsuccessfully applied for bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday in a hearing that was closed to the public. 

Police had been granted a suppression order restricting access on what could be reported about the 31-year-old’s alleged crimes.

The top-order batsman spent Sunday night behind bars after being charged with raping a 29-year-old Australian woman.

He faces four counts of sexual intercourse without consent allegedly committed over a two-hour period at Rose Bay on November 2. 

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka (above) will remain behind bars after charged with raping a woman in Sydney’s eastern suburbs during the T20 World Cup. Pictured, with a woman during a previous world trip

Gunathilaka (above) unsuccessfully applied for bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday in a hearing that was closed to the public

Gunathilaka (above) unsuccessfully applied for bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday in a hearing that was closed to the public 

Gunathilaka appeared in the Downing Centre by audio-visual link from Surry Hills police station. He was handcuffed and wearing a grey T-shirt with blue jeans. 

The injured star was arrested at a hotel in the Sydney central business district as he and teammates were preparing to depart the country about 1am on Sunday after crashing out of the T20 World Cup hours earlier.

Gunathilaka’s lawyer Ananda Amaranath said his client was disappointed his bail application had not been granted. 

‘He’s holding on well considering the circumstances,’ Mr Amaranath said on Monday outside court.

‘But he has the full support of the Sri Lankan High Commission and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, so he’s OK at the moment.’ 

It was likely Gunathilaka would again apply for bail in the Supreme Court.   

Danushka Gunathilaka (pictured) was injured but remained with the team for their T20 World Cup campaign Australia

Danushka Gunathilaka (pictured) was injured but remained with the team for their T20 World Cup campaign Australia

Danusha Gunathilaka's lawyer says the top-order batsman (pictured) is 'holding on well'

Danusha Gunathilaka’s lawyer says the top-order batsman (pictured) is ‘holding on well’

Mr Amaranath had previously said Gunathilaka would be ‘very worried’ if he could not get back to Sri Lanka because it could take a year or more for the case to be finalised. 

Gunathilaka has played eight Tests for Sri Lanka, as well as 47 one day internationals and 46 T20 games. 

He was injured three weeks ago and did not play in the T20 World Cup but remained in Australia with his Sri Lankan teammates.

Sri Lanka finished fourth in group one with two wins and three losses, including a narrow defeat against England at the SCG on Saturday night.

England will face group two winner India in the semi-finals in Adelaide on Thursday.

New Zealand will play group 2 runner-up Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Reigning champions Australia won’t defend their T20 title after failing to progress past the group stage.

Danushka Gunathilaka (pictured) was charged over the alleged rape of an Australian woman at a home in Sydney's eastern suburbs

Danushka Gunathilaka (pictured) was charged over the alleged rape of an Australian woman at a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

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