Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, known for his precise and fast-moving Yorkers turns a year older today.
Born August 28, 1983, Malinga was involved in a controversy when the famous Hindi film singer Chinmayi Sripaada made serious allegations of sexual assault against him.
In 2018, the #Metoo campaign was at its peak around the globe. Victims of sexual assault braved societal stigma to share their traumas.
Taking to Twitter, Indian playback singer Chinmayi shared a post recalling an incident where the cricketer sexually assaulted an anoymous woman in his hotel room. The incident according to the post happened in Mumbai a few years back during a season of the glamorous Indian Premier League (IPL).
Chinmayi, writing on behalf of the victim, wrote: “I’d like to remain anonymous. A few years back when I was in Mumbai, I was looking for my friend in the hotel we were staying in. I bumped into a very famous Sri Lankan cricketer during the IPL season who said my friend was in his room. I go in and she’s not. He then pushed me in the bed and proceeded to climb onto my face. Mind you I’m tall and about same body weight & I couldn’t fight him back. I closed my eyes and mouth but he used my face. Then the hotel staff knocked on the door to replenish the bar which he went to open the door. I quickly ran into the washroom, washed my face and left as soon as the hotel staff left. I was humiliated. I knew people would say that you knowingly went to his room, he’s famous you wanted it or worse you deserve it.”
Cricketer Lasith Malinga. pic.twitter.com/Y1lhbF5VSK
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) October 11, 2018
Malinga is one of Sri Lanka`s greatest bowlers with 306 ODI wickets and 90 T20I wickets.