Quantcast

Kulasekara bailed after tragic accident

Former world No.1 ODI bowler released by police following traffic collision

Sri Lanka bowler Nuwan Kulasekara has been bailed after being involved in a traffic accident that led to the death of a 28-year-old motorcyclist.

Kulasekara was on the A-1 highway when a motorcyclist travelling in the opposite direction hit a barrier dividing the lanes and crashed into the cricketer's vehicle, police said.

"He was briefly held as part of routine investigations and released," a police official at Kadawatha, 15 kilometres (10 miles) east of Colombo, said. "The motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries but there were no other casualties." 

According to a Sri Lanka Cricket media release, the 34-year-old seamer, who played three matches for Sussex in English cricket's T20 Blast this year, was detained by police following the incident.

"Sri Lanka Cricket expresses its sincere condolences on the tragic demise of a 28-year-old youth in an accident involving Sri Lanka cricketer Nuwan Kulasekera earlier today," said the SLC statement.

"Preliminary inquiries have revealed that Mr Kulasekera was returning to Colombo from Kandy when the unfortunate motorcycle rider, who was travelling in the opposite direction, had lost control of his bike whilst trying to overtake a bus and got flung into Mr Kulasekera's path.

"Mr Kulasekera is currently enlarged on bail by the Kadawatha Chief Magistrate pending completion of the investigation."


The veteran seamer, who was ranked the No.1 ODI bowler in the world in 2009, made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2005 and went on to play 21 Tests, capturing 48 wickets. He retired from Test cricket in June to concentrate on shorter formats of the game.

Police have deployed Buddhist monks to bless dangerous roads, including the A-1, to minimise accidents.

Around 2,700 people were killed last year on Sri Lanka's roads, with about half the victims motorcyclists.