Away from the cricket field, Sri Lanka is not renowned as a hot bed of athletic endeavour.

However at the world championships in Canada, three members of the country's team have made a name for themselves - even if team officials are not revealing those names.

Two members of the squad have been sacked from the team for shop-lifting in Edmonton.

After being held by Canadian police the pair were released following the intervention of their team manager, Palitha Fernando.

But Fernando took a dim view of a third Sri Lankan who was deported for drunkenness.

Drinking alcohol violates the rules of the athletics village so after being expelled from the team, the culprit was duly sent home.

But a Sri Lankan sports ministry official revealed that more incidents could arise in the future.

"There are some complaints against our officials too and they will be investigated," he said.

Perec's disappearing act

It is not the first occasion that athletes have left their team in the lurch at international events and only last year, France's Marie Jose Perec, did a runner prior to the Olympics.

Perec's whereabouts are still unknown.

On other occasions sportsmen have left their teams to seek refuge in the host nation, and Canadian immigration officials will no doubt face some form filling come the end of the championships.

As a result of their misdemeanours the three Sri Lankans will not be beating a path to the immigration offices.

Instead they will be heading home with stories of shop-lifting and drinking, proving it's just not cricket.