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.
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“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,” 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 ministry of sport dismissed SLC’s board and replaced it with an interim committee – chaired by Arjuna Ranatunga – but the sacking was stayed by Sri Lanka’s court of appeal on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka, coached by former England coach Chris Silverwood, won two of their nine matches at the World Cup in India and sit second bottom of the table, with other fixtures still to be played, so are unlikely to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The ICC board is due to meet again on 21 November, when the next steps of the suspension process will be confirmed. Sri Lanka is 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.