Italy Women’s head coach Prabath Ekneligoda has been accused of sexually assaulting an Italian national player, plunging the sport in the country into crisis.
A complaint, filed with the Rome prosecutor’s office, detailed the allegation that Ekneligoda gave an injured player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, an unsolicited massage, during which he groped the player in question. The allegations were first reported by Italian outlet Il Messaggero on Saturday, February 21. Ekneligoda, originally from Sri Lanka, denies the allegations.
According to a report in the BBC, the investigation into Ekneligoda concluded last November, with a decision over bringing the case to trial yet to be made. In the interim, however, a lack of clarity over the extent of Ekneligoda’s continued involvement in Italian cricket has left a cloud hanging over the sport in the country. While he has officially been suspended from his role, he was, according to the BBC, seen wearing official Italian accreditation during the ongoing men’s T20 World Cup, for which Italy qualified for the first time. Il Messaggero also reported that he attended an Italy Women’s training session in Sri Lanka following his suspension. The Cricket Italia website has removed his name as coordinator of women’s activities since the story broke.
Ekneligoda is the partner of Maria Lorena Haz Paz, president of the FCRI, Italian cricket’s governing body. Both Il Messaggero and BBC have reported that several board members have since resigned their posts, putting her position under question.
According to the BBC report, the FCRI, in a statement, “noted proceedings are currently under way before the federal prosecutor's office”.
“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,” it added.
“The federation therefore defers to the competent judicial authorities for any determinations arising from the matter.”
Italy are ranked 23rd in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings, having risen up the ladder in recent years. They finished one position off emulating their men’s side and qualifying for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, edged out by the Netherlands and Ireland in the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Europe.
