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Sri Lanka cricket find themselves in the midst of a tumultuous period, grappling with a string of lackluster performances in the ODI World Cup 2023. The Islanders’ underwhelming show in the tournament has ignited a storm of criticism and intense scrutiny from the global cricket community. Fans, experts, and analysts have voiced concerns over the team’s lack of cohesion and consistency.
Wrath falls upon the Sri Lanka Cricket Board
In a significant development, Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, took action on Monday by dismissing the national cricket board following their dismal performance in the ongoing event.
In a statement issued last Friday, the sports minister delivered a scathing critique of Sri Lanka Cricket, alleging disloyalty and corruption within the organization. He demanded the immediate resignation of its board members.
Ranasinghe penned a letter on Saturday addressed to the International Cricket Council‘s (ICC) full members, seeking their comprehension and backing.
“Sri Lanka Cricket has been besieged with complaints of player disciplinary issues, management corruption, financial misconduct and match-fixing allegations,” Ranasinghe said in the letters, released to Sri Lankan media.
Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup 2023
Sri Lanka’s campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023 has been nothing short of disastrous. The team’s dismal performance resulted in their untimely elimination from the tournament, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts utterly disappointed. Out of the eight matches they have played so far, the Kusal Mendis-led side have secured victory in only two, losing the remaining six.
It is undoubtedly a challenging time for Sri Lankan cricket, and the team will need to regroup and strategize for the future to regain their competitive edge on the global stage.
Also READ: Angelo Mathews, Shakib Al Hasan respond to the ‘timed out’ controversy – ODI World Cup 2023
New Chairman of the seven-member committee
Ranasinghe has appointed a new interim committee of seven members to oversee Sri Lankan cricket. Notably, this committee is led by the former World Cup-winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga. According to an announcement from the Ministry of Sports, Ranasinghe invoked the authority granted by Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 to constitute this committee.
The newly appointed committee includes three retired judges, with two of them being female, as well as former SLC chairman Upali Dharmadasa. This move marks a return for Ranatunga, who previously led a similar interim committee back in 2008, taking charge of Sri Lanka’s cricket administration once again.
