After a turbulent week, the International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka on Friday, citing government meddling in the national board. Both the ruling and opposition parties supported a motion that was overwhelmingly approved by the Sri Lankan parliament on Thursday and demanded the removal of the nation’s cricket regulatory body. Scroll down to read ICC Suspend Sri Lanka Cricket Over Government Interference.
ICC Suspend Sri Lanka Cricket Over Government Interference
According to a statement released by the ICC, “The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership in the ICC with immediate effect. The ICC Board met today and determined that Sri Lanka Cricket is in serious breach of its obligations as a Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation, and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka.”
“The ICC Board will determine the suspension’s terms in due course,” the statement continued.
The ICC Board suspended Sri Lanka’s membership because the resolution adopted by the country’s parliament amounted to government meddling.
After Sri Lankan cricket suffered a setback in the present World Cup in India, a series of events transpired. With just two victories in nine games, Sri Lanka is eliminated from the semifinal competition.
Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the largest opposition party, proposed the resolution, “the removal of the corrupt SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) management,” and senior government minister Nimal Siripala de Silva seconded it.
The parliament gave its consent two days after the Court of Appeal reinstated Shammi Silva as the head of the SLC management on Tuesday.
Arjuna Ranatunga, a former captain of the World Cup, was named head of a seven-member interim committee to oversee the cricket board by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe on Monday before the Court of Appeal reinstated it.
SLC headquarters were guarded by police while the resolution was being debated in parliament.
Several hundred demonstrators had gathered outside the SLC headquarters to demand that the management resign.
When Sri Lanka was bowled out for 55 in the run chase against India in Mumbai, the criticism of the national team’s performance intensified. Sri Lanka had also suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of India in the previous Asia Cup final, where, on September 17, they were bowled out for 50 runs.
When Zimbabwe Cricket was suspended in 2021 for government meddling, it was the first time the ICC had suspended a full member.
