ICC suspends SLC over government meddling

After an eventful week, the government meddling in the national board was noticed by the International Cricket Council, which on Friday suspended its full member Sri Lanka. The government and opposition parties in Sri Lanka’s parliament supported a motion that was overwhelmingly passed on Thursday and demanded the removal of the nation’s cricket regular body.

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect,” said the ICC in a statement.

At today’s meeting, the ICC board concluded that Sri Lanka Cricket is gravely failing to fulfill its responsibilitiesas a Member, specifically the need to conduct its business independently and guarantee that the government does not meddle in the regulation, governance, or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka.

“The conditions of the suspension will be decided by the ICC Board in due course,” the statement added.

The ICC Board suspended Sri Lanka’s membership because the resolution adopted by the country’s parliament amounted to government meddling.

After the Sri Lankan cricket team’s dismal performance in the current World Cup in India, a series of events took place. With just two victories in the games, Sri Lanka is eliminated from the semi-final competition.

Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the largest opposition party, proposed the resolution, “the removal of the corrupt SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) management”, and senior government minister Nimal Siripala de Silva seconded it.

The parliament gave its consent two days after the court of Appeal reinstated Shammi Silva as the head of the SLC management on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe cricket was suspended by the ICC in 2021 as a result of government meddling, marking the first time the organization had suspended a full member.