Italian cricket is going through a very difficult time right now because the country's historic T20 World Cup debut has been overshadowed by a serious sexual assault accusation. Prabath Ekneligoda, a 57-year-old senior official who is the women's cricket coordinator for the Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCRI), is at the center of the storm. Reports say that Ekneligoda is being investigated by the police in Rome for allegedly touching a member of the Azzurri women's national team inappropriately. The victim, whose name is still a secret, is said to have said that the incident happened during a training session while she was getting a massage for a knee injury.
The timing of the news has shocked the sports world, especially since Italy has been doing so well on the world stage lately. The player in question is said to have been hesitant to come forward for almost a year because she was afraid of losing her place on the national team. Even though the charges were serious, the investigation didn't get to a critical point until late 2025, when a prosecutor in Rome finished it in November. Police then talked to Ekneligoda in December, and now the authorities are deciding whether there is enough evidence to move forward with a full criminal trial.
The scandal has already started to tear the national governing body apart from the inside. Several board members have reportedly quit, citing not only the sexual assault case but also bigger problems with how the federation is run. The mass departures have put a lot of stress on Maria Lorena Haz Paz, the president of the FCRI, who took over in early 2025. Ekneligoda's relationship with President Haz Paz has also caused a lot of controversy. This has led to a lot of scrutiny of how the federation is handling the situation.
Ekneligoda was officially suspended from his job in November, but he has stayed a very visible member of the Italian cricket delegation. Reports and photos show that he went to the Men's T20 World Cup in India with the national team. People saw him wearing official identification and sitting with the FCRI party during games. He even went to high-profile events like a reception at the Italian consulate in Kolkata. This continued presence has made people very worried about how well the federation is following its own rules and how seriously it takes its own safety measures.
The FCRI made an official statement saying that they are working with the right judicial authorities and that their actions are based on fairness and openness. But high-ranking people in Italian cricket are very worried that the damage to their reputation could be permanent. They are worried that the scandal will stop the national team's progress after they won against Nepal and put up a good fight against England. The federation is now worried about possible lawsuits and a loss of public trust instead of growth.
Ekneligoda's lawyers say that he denies all of the accusations and says that there are other reasons behind them. They also say that there is a witness who backs up his story. Even though he denied it, the fact that he was still listed as the women's cricket coordinator on the official FCRI website as of late February has only made people more angry. The Italian media, including big names like Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera, have started to cover the story in depth, making sure it stays in the national news.
This scandal is the worst thing that could happen to a sport that was just starting to get people interested in it in Italy. People called the Azzurri's trip to the World Cup a "miracle" because it involved a strange mix of teachers, pizza makers, and professionals with Italian roots. Now, the story of inspiration and unity is being replaced by one of systemic failure and wrongdoing. The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) will probably keep a close eye on things, since any proof of bad management could put the federation's funding and official status at risk.
The International Cricket Council and other groups in the international cricket community are also watching the situation with worry. Italy has been a member of the ICC since 1984, and its rise was seen as a success story for the growth of the game in places where it isn't usually played. The current crisis could undo years of hard work by grassroots players and organizers who are dedicated to the sport. The future of the current FCRI leadership is still very uncertain as the courts make their final decision on the trial.
The women's national team is also being tested on how strong they are as they deal with this toxic environment. Those who are still in the federation now have to make sure that the players are safe and healthy. Many people who want to protect athletes in sports are asking for a completely separate look at the FCRI's internal rules to make sure that similar events are handled more responsibly in the future. This case's outcome will probably have a big impact on how Italian sports organizations deal with sexual misconduct in the future.
The Italian Cricket Federation is at a crossroads as the 2026 season approaches. It can either reform or completely fall apart. The fact that important board members are leaving shows that a lot of the leadership no longer thinks the current path is viable. The federation's ability to change course and restore its reputation will depend on how open it is about the accusations. The legal proceedings in Rome are still the main focus for now. They will decide the fate of Prabath Ekneligoda and the integrity of the sport in Italy.