ICC suspends Sri Lanka's cricket board for 'breach of obligations'

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board Friday suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect.

In a statement, the body said its board held a meeting 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," the statement mentioned.

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

The Sri Lankan cricket board was restored by a court this Tuesday just a day after it was sacked by the sports minister following a humiliating run in the ICC World Cup 2023.

The country's Court of Appeal quashed the minister's decision and restored the expelled officials pending a full hearing.

The court accepted a petition by board president Shammi Silva challenging minister Roshan Ranasinghe's move on Monday to dismiss the Sri Lanka Cricket board and appoint an interim committee.

"The restoring of the board is for two weeks, when the court will hear the case again," a court official said.

Board officials said Silva was due to return to work after securing an order that prevented the interim committee — headed by former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga — from continuing in office.

The government has also appointed a cabinet committee to address "outstanding issues" of the board.

The minister's action after India thrashed Sri Lanka and won by 302 runs. The losing side could only score 55 runs in 19.4 runs.

Ranasinghe has been at loggerheads with Sri Lanka Cricket — the richest sports organisation on the financially stricken island — for months over allegations of widespread corruption.

The country's 1996 World Cup-winning skipper Ranatunga had vowed to clean up the board and rebuild the national team after taking over on Monday.

"Sri Lanka Cricket had become known as the most corrupt institution in the country," Ranatunga said on Monday.

"I want to change that image."