Italian cricket faces a major crisis after revelations that Federazione Cricket Italiana women's cricket co-ordinator Prabath Ekneligoda, 57, was under criminal investigation for sexual assault. The allegation, made by a national team player in March 2024, claims Ekneligoda inappropriately touched her during a massage for a knee injury at a training session.

Multiple FCRI board members have reportedly resigned over this case and other governance issues. The investigation concluded in November 2025, with a decision pending on whether to bring the case to trial. Ekneligoda, who denies the allegations and claims there are ulterior motives, was suspended from his role in November but remained visible at the recent T20 World Cup in India.

Despite knowledge of the serious claims, the FCRI permitted Ekneligoda to attend matches wearing official accreditation and participate in events including a reception at the Italian consulate in Kolkata. The federation stated it would cooperate with authorities while deferring to judicial determinations. This scandal threatens to overshadow Italy's historic T20 World Cup debut and damage the sport's reputation in the country just as it seeks to capitalize on newfound attention.