Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced on Monday that wicketkeeper Kusal Perera was sent home from his team’s cricket tour of New Zealand after failing a doping test during an earlier home series against Pakistan.
SLC also said that he was randomly selected for a drug test during the Pakistan series and his A sample had tested positive for a banned substance.
The statement said “in view of this and in terms of the applicable ICC regulations, SLC has recalled Perera from New Zealand.”
Kaushal Silva will take Perera’s place in the Sri Lanka squad. The first test against New Zealand begins in Dunedin on Thursday.
Sri Lanka Cricket said Perera’s B sample would be tested and it would make “every endeavour” to allow him to resume playing cricket at the earliest opportunity.