Sri Lanka's demoralised cricket team faces an investigation into alleged “scandalous behaviour” during its dismal tour of New Zealand, including drinking parties and squabbling, AFP said citing the sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Jayasekera told AFP that he had been handed photos of national players attending all-night parties just before crucial matches against hosts New Zealand, who achieved a virtual clean sweep in the just-ended tour.

“There was scandalous behaviour,” the minister said.

“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,” the Minister maintained.

Sri Lanka went to New Zealand as defending champions of the shortest form of the game, but slipped to third position this month behind the West Indies and Australia after their defeat in the Twenty20 matches.

Sri Lanka also lost the Tests 0-2 and the one-day series 1-3 to the hosts.

“My main concern is the breakdown in discipline. When that is affected, the team naturally performs badly,” he said of reported squabbling between players, including the captain, and the coach.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka cricketer TM Dilshan had refuted the allegations in an interview with a local TV channel. He insisted that there was no differences among the players or between the players and the management. The video of the interview was released yesterday.

(With inputs from AFP)