Sri Lanka’s membership of the International Cricket Council has been suspended with immediate effect, the governing body announced on Friday afternoon. The decision comes in the wake of government interference in Sri Lanka Cricket’s administration.
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 there,” a statement from the ICC read. “The conditions of the suspension will be decided by the ICC board in due course.
On Monday, Sri Lanka’s minister of sport fired SLC’s board and named Arjuna Ranatunga to chair an interim committee. However, the sacking was stayed by Sri Lanka’s court of appeal on Tuesday.
Government’s Involvement and Legal Halt
Sri Lanka, coached by former England coach Chris Silverwood, won two of their nine matches at the World Cup in India. They are second-bottom with games left, making them unlikely to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
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ICC board will meet again on November 21 to ratify suspension procedural steps. They are also set to host the Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the start of 2024, with a three-Test tour of England scheduled for August.