Sports: ICC Suspends Sri Lanka Cricket Membership Over Autonomy Breach
Dubai, 10th November 2023: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has decided to suspend Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership from the ICC, citing serious breaches of its obligations as a Member. The primary concern is the failure to manage its affairs autonomously, with a specific emphasis on preventing government interference in the regulation and administration of cricket in Sri Lanka. The conditions for the suspension will be determined by the ICC Board shortly.
Reports indicate that the ICC has communicated this decision to Sri Lanka Cricket, and further steps will be discussed during the quarterly meeting on November 21. As a result of the suspension, Sri Lanka will be ineligible to participate in any ICC tournaments and engage in bilateral series. The impending ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2024, scheduled to be hosted by Sri Lanka in January and February, will also be subject to consideration during the next ICC Board meeting.
In an unexpected turn of events, Sri Lanka’s sports minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, dismissed the entire cricket board on Monday, appointing former World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga to oversee cricket affairs. However, Sri Lanka’s apex court promptly reinstated the board and established an interim committee to manage ongoing operations.
On November 9, 2023, Sri Lanka concluded their ICC ODI World Cup 2023 journey with a defeat to New Zealand, who emerged victorious by 5 wickets. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka fell short of qualifying for the knockout stage. Upon the conclusion of their campaign on November 9, 2023, the ICC swiftly made this decision to at least ensure that the ongoing World Cup tournament experienced no interruptions.
