Sri Lankan cricket in further trouble as ICC suspends SLC due to political interference

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was on Friday suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to political interference in what is a massive blow for the former world champions.

The development comes a day after the country’s parliament called for the “corrupt board”, the richest sporting body in the cash-strapped island nation, to resign.

“The ICC Board met today and determined that Sri Lanka Cricket is in serious breach of its obligations as a Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka,” read an official release from the ICC.

Sri Lanka Cricket suspended by ICC Board.

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— ICC (@ICC) November 10, 2023

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe had sacked the entire board following Sri Lanka’s humiliating 302-run loss against India in Mumbai in the ongoing ICC World Cup, and had named an interim committee with 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga as its head.

The decision, however, was later overturned by Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal, which allowed the board to carry on with its functioning.

More to follow