ICC Board lifts suspension on Sri Lanka Cricket

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ICC Board : SLC Resumes Normal Operations After ICC Ban

ICC Board lifts suspension on SLC : With immediate effect, the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been removed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board, as per reports.

SLC was placed on suspension in November of last year for failing to conduct its business independently and for violating the rule prohibiting government intervention in Sri Lankan cricket’s governance, regulation, and/or administration.

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board is no longer in violation of its membership duties, as per a report published by news agency PTI. The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has been keeping an eye on the matter since the suspension.

When he announced on social media that the ban had been lifted, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports Harin Fernando promised to release an official announcement shortly.

ICC Board : SLC Faces Political Turmoil and Legal Battles

After Fernando’s predecessor Roshan Ranasinghe dismissed the current Shammi Silva government and named an interim committee led by 1996 World Cup winner Arjuna Ranatunga, the ICC banned Sri Lanka.

Subsequently, President Ranil Wickremesinghe removed Ranasinghe from his position and the court restored Silva. However, because to the ban, Sri Lanka was unable to host the U-19 World Cup, which is presently taking place in South Africa.

According to the report, Wickremesinghe and Fernando were both met by ICC CEO Geoff Allardice during his early-month visit to Colombo. The Sri Lankan government is allegedly working on a new sports statute that would forbid political meddling in sports governance, according to information provided to him.

SLC Struggles on the Field Amidst Off-Field Issues

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has today lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect.

READ: https://t.co/wG29foCFiU #SLC
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) January 28, 2024

“SLC is no longer in violation of membership obligations, as per the Board’s monitoring of the situation since the suspension.” In November of last year, the ICC banned Sri Lanka, claiming political meddling.

The national team’s performance in the ODI World Cup was causing tension among Sri Lankan cricket. Sri Lanka did not make it into the 2025 Champions Trophy after finishing ninth in the points rankings.

The SLC administration was fired by Sri Lankan Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, who also named former World Cup captain Arjuna Ranatunga as the chairman of a seven-person temporary council to oversee the cricket body. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeal reversed that.

The Sri Lankan parliament overwhelmingly approved a motion later in the week calling for SLC’s dismissal. It received the backing of parties on both sides of the dispute. The ICC seemed displeased with the decision that the Sri Lankan parliament approved.