Sri Lanka captain slams player misconduct

Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews has promised "no mercy" for players if they are found guilty of late-night partying and other misconduct during his team's recent tour of New Zealand.

Mathews said he was hurting following a tour in which his team were soundly beaten in all three formats by the Black Caps.

He confirmed the Sri Lankan sports ministry would investigate allegations the players were involved in "scandalous" behaviour during the six-week tour, which finished on Sunday when the Black Caps romped to a nine-wicket T20I victory.

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Sri Lanka sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera claimed he had received photographs of players staying out late in the lead-up to matches, saying he believed there was a lack of harmony in the team, who lost the Test and Twenty20 series 2-0, the one-day international series 3-1.

Mathews told a press conference he could not deny there had been misbehaviour during a tour he described as "demoralising".

"I can promise that there will be no mercy for any member found guilty of misconduct," Mathews said.

Sri Lanka team manager Jerry Woutersz did not comment on the reports of indiscipline.

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He said a report would be handed to the ministry this week.

Earlier, Jayasekera said he would conduct a government investigation into the tour.

"They have not only attended drinking parties till three and four in the morning, but there was a lot of tension and friction among members," Jayasekera told AFP.

"When they return, I want to call the team and along with Thilanga (Sumathipala, new Sri Lankan cricket president) try to find out what happened.

"My main concern is the breakdown in discipline. When that is affected, the team naturally performs badly," he said.

Sri Lanka, the defending world T20 champions, lost their No.1 ranking in the format at the end of the series, dropping to third behind the West Indies and Australia.

Jayasekera told Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror the national cricket team faced serious problems.

"We have slid (down the rankings) in all formats, including T20, which we were on top for many years.

"So we need to ascertain what had really contributed to this downward trend and try to fix it before it gets worse."