Top 5 infamous moments of assault charges against cricketers

Top 5 infamous moments of assault charges against cricketers (Photo Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Cricket has witnessed several off-field controversies over the years, with a handful of players becoming involved in assault-related legal cases that attracted widespread public attention. While some were acquitted after trial or appeal, others remain under investigation or involved in incidents where they were the victims rather than the accused.

Here are five of the most discussed assault-related cases involving international cricketers:

Danushka Gunathilaka (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka faced one of the most high-profile legal battles in recent cricket history after being arrested in Sydney, Australia, in November 2022. He was initially charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent following a Tinder date. As the investigation progressed, prosecutors dropped three of the charges, leaving one allegation relating to stealthing.

The case proceeded to trial before the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. In September 2023, the court found Gunathilaka not guilty. The judge ruled that the evidence indicated the sexual intercourse had been continuous, concluding there was no opportunity for the alleged removal of the condom as claimed. Following the acquittal, Sri Lanka Cricket lifted the suspension that had been imposed on him at the time of his arrest, making him eligible to return to competitive cricket.

Jesse Ryder (New Zealand)

Unlike the other entries on this list, former New Zealand batter Jesse Ryder was the victim of a brutal assault rather than the accused. In March 2013, Ryder was attacked outside a Christchurch bar after an altercation, suffering severe head injuries and a collapsed lung. The incident left him in a medically induced coma and sparked concern across the cricketing world.

Two men, Craig Joseph O’Neill and Dylan James O’Neill, were arrested and later pleaded guilty to assault charges. In 2015, Craig O’Neill admitted assault with intent to injure and received 250 hours of community work along with an order to pay emotional harm reparation. Dylan O’Neill pleaded guilty to common assault and was fined. Ryder recovered after spending nearly a week in hospital and eventually resumed his professional cricket career.

Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal)

Former Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane became the centre of a major legal controversy after a young woman accused him of sexual assault and rape in August 2022. In January 2024, the Kathmandu District Court convicted the leg-spinner and sentenced him to eight years in prison while also imposing fines and compensation.

However, Lamichhane appealed the verdict before the High Court in Patan. In May 2024, the High Court overturned the conviction, acquitted him of all charges, and declared him not guilty. The decision cleared the way for his return to cricket, prompting the Cricket Association of Nepal to revoke his suspension and restore his eligibility for international selection.

Shashank Singh (India)

Punjab Kings all-rounder Shashank Singh found himself in legal controversy after an FIR was registered against him, his father Shailesh Singh, and their driver following allegations made by the family’s former cook, Vipendra Singh Tomar. According to the complaint filed at Ratibad Police Station in Bhopal, Tomar alleged that he was verbally abused, assaulted, wrongfully confined, and prevented from contacting others after expressing his wish to resign from his job. He further claimed that his phone was confiscated and that he suffered injuries after the trio allegedly forced open a locked room.

A medical examination reportedly documented visible injuries, leading police to register a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Shashank Singh has categorically denied all allegations. Police have stated that the investigation remains ongoing, with officials examining the complainant’s statement, medical report, and other evidence. No court has determined the merits of the allegations at this stage.

Ben Stokes (England)

Former England Test captain Ben Stokes faced an affray charge following a street fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017, shortly after England had played a One-Day International against the West Indies. Prosecutors alleged that Stokes had become drunk and enraged after being refused re-entry into the venue and had engaged in significant violence.

During the six-day trial at Bristol Crown Court, Stokes denied the charge and argued that he had intervened to protect two gay men who were being verbally abused before acting in self-defence when confronted by others. In August 2018, the jury found both Stokes and co-defendant Ryan Ali not guilty of affray. The verdict brought an end to an 11-month legal ordeal for the England all-rounder, allowing him to fully resume his international career. The case remains one of the most widely covered legal incidents involving a modern-day cricketer.

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