Sri Lanka sacks board, appoints interim committee

Monday, 6 November 2023 09:48

By Reuters

Sri Lanka has dismissed the board of its cricket governing body and replaced it with an interim committee, the ministry of sport said on Monday, after a disappointing World Cup campaign.

Sri Lanka have won only two of their seven World Cup matches, all but crashing out of the semi-final race, with the board coming under heavy criticism from angry fans after Thursday's 302-run loss to hosts India.

Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe called the governing body, Sri Lanka Cricket, "traitorous and corrupt" in a Friday statement, saying board members should resign.

The secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mohan de Silva, the second-highest official on the board, stepped down on Saturday as fans protested in front of its headquarters.

The minister sacked remaining board members on Monday, replacing them with an interim committee chaired by World Cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, his ministry said in a statement.

Ranatunga will be joined by two retired Supreme Court judges in the seven-member committee.

Seventh-placed Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh in their penultimate group stage match on Monday.

More from Sports News

Rory McIlroy tied for lead to begin Masters defence

Rory McIlroy began the defence of his first Masters title with a 5-under-par 67 that gave him a share of the first-round lead with Sam Burns at Augusta National on Thursday.
Watkins inspires Villa victory at Bologna while Forest battle to Porto draw

Ollie Watkins struck twice as Aston Villa claimed a 3-1 win at Bologna, while a Martim Fernandes own goal helped Nottingham Forest secure a 1-1 draw at Porto in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final ties on Thursday.
Sabalenka withdraws from Stuttgart Open due to injury

Aryna Sabalenka has pulled out of this month's Stuttgart Open due to an injury she sustained following her Miami Open triumph in March, the world number one said on Thursday.
Brazil's Cardoso first bowler to take 9 wickets in a T20 international

Brazil's Laura Cardoso became the first bowler to take nine wickets in a T20 international in men's or women's cricket as her team claimed a 189-run victory over Lesotho at the Kalahari Women's Tournament in Botswana's capital Gaborone on Thursday.
Atletico beat 10-man Barca as PSG defeat Liverpool

Atletico Madrid took a firm grip on their Champions League quarter-final as goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth earned a 2-0 first-leg victory over 10-man Barcelona at the Camp Nou.