Sri Lanka Cricket Suspended by ICC Over Government Interference
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to government interference. This decision comes after the Sri Lankan government had previously dismissed SLC following the national team’s disappointing performance in the World Cup, where they lost seven out of their nine games in the league stage.
SLC was later reinstated by the court of appeal, but the controversy surrounding the organization continued to escalate. A joint resolution from the government and opposition in parliament demanded the resignation of SLC’s management. The resolution received unanimous support from both ruling and opposition parties in Sri Lanka’s parliament, leading to the sacking of SLC.
In response to these developments, the ICC Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership with immediate effect. The decision was made after the board concluded that SLC was in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC member, particularly in regard to managing its affairs autonomously and preventing government interference in the governance and administration of cricket in Sri Lanka.
The conditions of the suspension will be determined by the ICC Board in due course. It is worth noting that this is the second time the ICC has enforced a suspension on a full member, with Zimbabwe Cricket having faced a similar penalty in 2021 due to government interference.
Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the 2023 World Cup further contributed to the controversy. Out of their nine league matches, they managed only two victories and suffered seven defeats. Their campaign began with a heavy 102-run loss to South Africa. While they managed wins against Netherlands and England, Sri Lanka’s hopes were ultimately dashed by consecutive defeats to Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.
Despite the team’s overall performance, individual players showed promise. Dilshan Madushanka emerged as the joint-leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 21 wickets, while Sadeera Samarawickrama performed well with the bat, scoring 373 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 53.29 and a strike rate of 102.19.
The suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket by the ICC reflects the governing body’s commitment to upholding the autonomy of its member associations. The move sends a strong message to cricket boards around the world that any form of government interference will not be tolerated. The ICC’s decision also raises questions about the future of cricket administration in Sri Lanka and how the situation will be resolved moving forward.
