ICC To Suspend Sri Lanka? SLC Issues Official Word Before India Tour

Suspension threat looms over SLC [Source: AFP]

Sri Lanka Cricket finds itself in a huge crisis over governance as the ICC is mulling taking action. The board’s new committee is now trying to save the day by evading a possible suspension.

For context, the Sri Lanka government removed the old SLC administration led by Shammi Silva and replaced it with a new transformation committee featuring former cricketers like Kumar Sangakkara.

ICC to inspect SLC transformation committee 

While the transformation committee’s primary objective is to eradicate corruption and improve transparency in Sri Lanka Cricket, the ICC has taken cognisance of the development.

This is because the ICC has strict rules against government interference in cricket boards, as they promote independent governance. State governments cannot directly control or appoint cricket administrators.

Since Sri Lanka’s sports ministry effectively replaced the old board with a government-backed committee, the ICC became concerned that this may violate its constitution.

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That’s why ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja travelled to Sri Lanka to investigate the situation. 

Notably, this is a concerning issue, as SLC was previously banned in 2023 for similar reasons. Even in 2015, the ICC froze payments after another government-appointed interim committee was formed.

SLC is confident about working together with ICC

Meanwhile, after meeting with ICC official Imran Khwaja, an SLC official told ESPNCricinfo that the discussions were cordial and constructive, stressing that they are not trying to politically control cricket or target former administrators.

Instead, they told the ICC their main goal is to modernise Sri Lanka Cricket’s outdated constitution and improve governance standards.

Sidath Wettimuny, a key member of the new committee, also said that SLC is confident of being treated as a full member nation by the ICC. So far, the ICC has yet to react, as they haven’t made a decision yet.

However, SLC is not out of the woods. If the ICC finds even the slightest evidence of government interference, Sri Lanka Cricket will be suspended as a consequence. 

BCCI secretary visits Sri Lanka to discuss the India tour

That being said, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was also a part of the ICC delegation that travelled to Sri Lanka to assess the board’s condition. Saikia was reportedly there to finalise a two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka.

According to reports, both boards have agreed to host the red-ball series, also part of the WTC cycle, in a tentative window between August 15 and 27. 

Apart from the Test series, the BCCI and SLC also discussed the possibility of squeezing in a T20I series. Sri Lanka reportedly wants India to play three T20Is as a fundraiser for victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah last year.

But fitting those games into the calendar is becoming extremely difficult because India’s schedule is already overloaded, as they may be touring Bangladesh in September.

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