Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports, Roshan Ranasinghe, took a bold step onMonday by removing the country’s cricket board, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC),following a humiliating loss to India at the ICC World Cup 2023.
This decision follows months of corruption allegations against thewealthiest sports organization in the country. In an official statementfrom Ranasinghe’s office, it was announced that Arjuna Ranatunga, thecaptain of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team, would become the newchairman of a temporary board established for Sri Lanka Cricket.
The statement read, “Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has formed aninterim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket.” The primary objective of this newboard is to investigate the poor performance of the Sri Lankan team in theWorld Cup.
Following the resignation of secretary Mohan de Silva, the Sri Lankan boardof directors has appointed a new seven-member panel, which includes aretired Supreme Court judge and a former board president. This move is seenas an attempt to restore the tarnished reputation of Sri Lankan cricket,which has been marred by corruption allegations and subpar performance.
Ranasinghe publicly called for the resignation of the entire board afterSri Lanka’s devastating 302-run loss to India at the World Cup. This losshad the team at one point 14-6 and eventually all out for 55, leading topublic outcry and protests outside the board office in Colombo.
Ranasinghe insisted that SLC officials had lost their moral and ethicalstanding and should voluntarily step down. He had previously accused theboard of being disloyal and corrupt. Sri Lanka faced Bangladesh later onMonday and required a miraculous turn of events to secure a spot in theWorld Cup’s final four.
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In an attempt to address the issues, Ranasinghe had written to theInternational Cricket Council (ICC) full members, seeking understanding andsupport. The ICC has strict rules against political interference in thesport. Ranasinghe pointed out that Sri Lanka Cricket had been plagued byplayer discipline problems, management corruption, financial misconduct,and match-fixing allegations.
The ICC had previously compelled the minister to withdraw a three-memberpanel he had appointed last month to investigate alleged corruption withinthe board due to it being deemed as political interference.
The ICC has not immediately responded to Ranasinghe’s latest action, whichdismissed a board elected in May, with Shammi Silva serving as thepresident for a third consecutive term. Sri Lanka has not won the World Cupsince 1996, with Ranasinghe attributing the decline in standards to theboard.
Another cabinet minister, Prasanna Ranatunga, brother of the newlyappointed interim board chairman, stated in August that the 1996 victoryhad brought about “the biggest curse for our cricket,” as it led to aninflux of money and individuals with corrupt intentions.