Members of the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team were allegedly pressured to give sexual favours in order to keep their place in their team.

Sri Lankan authorities will charge two men following allegations they demanded sex from team members.

Sports ministry spokesman Srilal Gomes said a disciplinary inquiry initiated in November uncovered evidence of “sexual harassment” against women players.

• Crooks and jihadists: cricket’s greatest challenge
• Why visibility is everything in women’s sport

“This is a very serious matter and the next step will be to take internal disciplinary action in addition to a criminal prosecution under the penal code,” Gomes said.

He did not name the officials or the players who had been harassed, but said criminal action in line with women and child protection laws was being taken.

An independent panel was asked in November to investigate local media allegations that unidentified players were dropped from the team for refusing to have sex with sports officials.

Reports had claimed that selection and team officials, who were not identified, demanded sex from players in return for securing them a place in the team.

Sri Lanka’s Children’s Minister Rosy Senanayake, who is also responsible for women’s issues, told reporters in Colombo Saturday that she was closely following the case.

“It is a shameful incident,” Senanayake said. “We want to put a stop to this kind of behaviour.”

– with AAP