The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a decisive step by suspending Sri Lanka Cricket's membership with immediate effect, following a meeting of the ICC Board. The decision, based on a breach of obligations as a member, primarily relates to the mandate for autonomous management of cricketing affairs and the prevention of government interference in the governance and administration of cricket within Sri Lanka.
The ICC Board has concluded that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has failed to fulfill these obligations, necessitating the immediate suspension of its membership. The specific conditions and terms of the suspension will be defined by the ICC Board in the coming period.
This action by the ICC Board marks a significant development in the governance of cricket within Sri Lanka and underscores the ICC's commitment to upholding the autonomy and independence of its member bodies in the administration of the sport. Further details and implications of this suspension are yet to be decided.
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It is pertinent to note that Sri Lanka's sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the entire SLC board on Monday (November 6) and even named an interm committee headed by Arjuna Ranatunga but Sri Lanka's courts reinstated the board a day later as a 14-day stay order was issued on the announcement that dissolved the current board.
Although there have been extensive debates about the functioning of SLC in the parliament at the time of the ICC suspension the cricket governing body was being headed by the elected SLC board with Shammi Silva at the helm. Sri Lanka's on-field performances have been nothing short of disappointing in the World Cup 2023 with the former champions winning just two out of their seven-league matches.
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