ICC Suspends Sri Lanka Cricket Board Over ‘Government Interference’

Mumbai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) because of ‘government interference’.

“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,” an ICC release stated, adding that the conditions of suspension will be decided by the ICC Board “in due course.”

The Sri Lankan team completed its dismal ODI World Cup campaign with a 5-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand on November 9. The Lankans won just 2 of their 9 games to be ninth out of 10 teams on the points table. They will almost certainly miss out on qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Troubles in Lankan cricket started after the team’s disastrous 302-run loss to India at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 2, when the team was all out for a paltry 55.

The Sports minister sacked the entire cricket board, before the Sri Lanka Cricket was reinstated by the court of appeal.

A day earlier, a joint government and opposition resolution in parliament demanded the resignation of SLC’s management, reported PTI.

The government recommended a new constitution for the SLC governing body with a new voting structure to appoint office-bearers.