Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has come to the aid of disgraced young fast bowler Shehan Madushanka and stated that mistakes happen and everybody deserved a second chance to rehabilitate himself.
“Madushanka is a long term investment who would be an asset to the nation. We need to find out the real reasons behind him using drugs. It may be an escape to his personal problems but this is not the only and the best solution for it,” Malinga told the Daily News.
Madushanka was suspended from all cricket activities by Sri Lanka Cricket after he was arrested by the Pannala police on May 23 with 2.7 grams of cocaine in his car.
He was produced before the Kuliyapitiya magistrate who remanded him till June 2 (today). Speaking further Malinga said, “The drug user might already be going through a difficult phase and might want to stop using drugs but the addiction and our system might have made it difficult for him to come forward and say that he needs help. We should rehabilitate him and guide him on the right path. He is just 25 years old and may have fallen into wrong friendship and relationship which could also be the reason.”
“Madushanka should be punished according to the law of our country but while punishing him, we should create the right path to his life. After all the legal procedures are over, we have to keep him at least three years at Khettarama High Performance Centre, distancing him from others and take what he has to offer for Sri Lanka. Everybody goes through tough times. We have to help him and his family,” he said.
Madushanka, a right-arm fast bowler, born on 10 April 1995 in Wennappuwa studied at Joseph’s Vas College, Wennapuwa and played domestic cricket for Tamil Union and for Baduraliya Sports Club. He has played in one ODI and two T20Is for Sri Lanka in 2018.
Add new comment