Sri Lanka Gets Relief as ICC Suspension Lifted: A Resumption in International Cricket
A good news has come for Sri Lanka as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has lifted the suspension imposed on Sri Lanka’s membership, allowing the cricket-loving nation to resume its participation in bilateral cricket and ICC events.
The suspension was swiftly enforced on November 10 due to government interference, which saw the dismissal of Sri Lanka Cricket board by the Ministry of Sport, replaced with an interim committee.
Following a meeting of the ICC board, Sri Lanka’s reinstatement as a member was confirmed. However, the reinstatement comes with a caveat – the future funding to Sri Lanka Cricket will be under the control of the ICC and the ICC Board.
This move emphasizes the global cricketing body’s commitment to maintaining the autonomy and integrity of its member boards. In last few months, Sri Lankan cricket board has looked quite unstable and this has some evident effect on team’s performance.
Changes in ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Hosting Rights
One notable consequence of the suspension lifting is Sri Lanka relinquishing the hosting rights for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Originally slated to take place in Sri Lanka, the tournament will now find its home in South Africa.
The shift underscores the immediate impact of ICC decisions on the hosting privileges of member nations. The reasons behind this shift aren’t quite clear but it must due to lack of support for cricket in Sri Lanka
READ MORE: Inconsistentcy Caused Demise of Sri Lanka, Says Silverwood
The backdrop to the suspension included allegations from the Sri Lankan government that Sri Lanka Cricket mishandled preparations for the U19 World Cup. Additionally, accusations were made regarding the transfer of $2 million from Sri Lanka Cricket’s accounts to third-party accounts.
However, Sri Lanka Cricket vehemently denied these allegations in a statement released earlier this month.
READ MORE: ICC Suspend Sri Lanka Cricket Over Government Interference
Zimbabwe was Suspended by ICC for Similar Reasons
This incident draws parallels with the ICC’s suspension of Zimbabwe in July 2019, citing concerns of government interference in cricket administration.
Zimbabwe’s ban was lifted nearly three months later after fruitful discussions between the ICC and the country’s government, highlighting the ICC’s approach to resolving issues through dialogue.
On the cricketing front, Sri Lanka faced a challenging Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, winning only two out of nine matches and finishing second from the bottom in the standings.
Despite this, they are scheduled to tour England next summer for a three-Test series, providing an opportunity for the team to regroup and showcase their cricketing prowess on the international stage.
