ICC may impose a four-year ban on Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Kusal Perera as the world cricket governing body revealed on Friday that the cricketer has tested positive for a banned substance.
Sri Lankan sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has said that they will launch an appeal. "The ICC has informed that he faces a four-year ban," the minister said. "We are hoping to appeal."
Perera, 25, who made his Test cricket debut only in August this year, had his urine sample tested in Qatar by the ICC during the home series against Pakistan in May this year. He subsequently tested positive for a banned substance and was recalled from the Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand this month.
Sri Lanka lost the series 0-2.
Tharanga had mentioned that the "herbal remedy" that he had undergone for a niggling shoulder injury was the reason behind him failing the doping test.
This is not the first time that such a thing is happening in Sri Lankan cricket. During the 2011 World Cup, left-hander batsman Upul Tharanga was suspended for three months by the ICC after testing positive for a banned substance.
