Sri Lanka Cricket Board Sacked
The government fired the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board on Monday in the wake of the national team’s crushing loss to host India in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The move came after a public outcry and demands for resignation from Ranasinghe to the Shammi Silva-led SLC following Sri Lanka’s 302-run loss to India in Mumbai on November 2.
Following the loss, numerous protests calling for the resignation of the Silva administration were staged in front of the SLC building. The structure was guarded by the riot police.
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Arjuna Ranatunga, a former World Cup captain, is leading a temporary seven-member committee created by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. According to a statement from the Ministry of Sports, Ranasinghe constituted the committee using the authority granted by Sports Law No. 25 of 1973.
The group also includes three retired judges, two of whom are female, and Upali Dharmadasa, a former chair of the SLC. With this, Ranatunga, who had led a similar interim committee in 2008, took back his role as the leader of Sri Lanka’s cricket team.
Sri Lanka Cricket Board Suspended: Sri Lanka Sports Minister has appointed an Interim Committee for SLC with 1996 World Cup winning Captain Arjuna Ranatunga as Chairman with effect from today pic.twitter.com/iyGH1IOTKw
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) November 6, 2023
Ranatunga, the head of the National Sports Council that Ranasinghe nominated, has been raising concerns about the Silva regime. In May, Silva was chosen to serve a third consecutive term as SLC chief, beginning in May 2025.
After the team’s humbling loss to Team India, where they were bowled out for 55 in response to India’s 357 for 8, stand-in captain Kusal Mendis expressed that he was “sad.” “I feel quite sad when we truly talk about the last games. And for that reason, we find it difficult to stop thinking about that earlier game. There are two more games in this tournament left. Our team’s weaknesses have been highlighted, and we are now concentrating on the future games, Mendis stated in the pre-game press conference on Sunday.
“We wish to move forward from that match as quickly as possible. However, it’s not a match that is easily overlooked. Without considering that match, we should always aim to get ready for the next two games. Needs to win the next two games. We have discussed what needs to be done for that as I am the team leader. We have discussed the areas in which we failed. We aim to perform well in the next games,” he continued.
The eighth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will pit Sri Lanka against Bangladesh on Monday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.