Italian cricket in crisis amid sexual assault allegation

Italian cricket has been rocked by allegations of sexual harassment, days after the country's maiden appearance at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The BBC has reported a case of sexual misconduct alleged against Prabath Ekneligoda, who is the women's cricket co-ordinator at Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCRI), with the claim being that he touched a member of the Italian women's team inappropriately. The report states that the player, whose identity is currently unknown, reported the incident to the police in March 2025, following which an investigation took place in November. In December, Ekneligoda, who is also the founder of the Roma Cricket Club in Italy, was questioned. According to a statement from the FCRI that was cited by the report, "The Italian Cricket Federation reiterates that its conduct is guided by principles of fairness, transparency, and the protection of its registered members, as well as by the ethical and civic standards that underpin the sporting system." The statement also states that Ekneligoda's attorney has refuted the allegations. The report further mentions that a decision is now to be made over the possibility of a trial keeping in mind the existing evidence.