Why Pakistani journalist targeted Sri Lankan cricketer?
Pak prank on Dilshan dope
PALLEKELE: It was a morning that promised the first explosive piece of news in the World Cup. Many sections of the local and international media reported on Wednesday that Sri Lanka's star opening bat Tillakaratne Dilshan had failed a dope test conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) during the World Cup. The rumour kept getting louder, till the Sri Lankan camp was forced to make a statement.
Vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene, addressing a press conference one the eve of Sri Lanka's group A match against Zimbabwe on Thursday, clarified that Dilshan was not even among the Sri Lankan players who gave sample for dope tests.
"We have had two players tested. Dilshan is not one of them. The players are Ajantha Mendis and Chamara Silva. I am not too sure about where this story has come from but there is no truth in it," Jayawardene said.
Later, the Sri Lankan media manager Brian Thomas completely quashed those reports. "It is a baseless, fictional story, which has been floated by a Pakistani journalist. The media should not disturb the players by doing these kinds of stories," Thomas said.
Dilshan has played four matches and scored 139 runs in four matches so far, including a 50. His exit would have been a major blow to the Lankan team at this stage.
Australian leg-spin legend Shane Warne was sent home after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride, both of which are diuretics normally used to aid temporary weight loss, during the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa. Thankfully for Sri Lanka, in Dilshan's case, it turned out to be nothing more than a 'cheap dope trick'.
World Cup: Pak prank on Dilshan dope