After a crushing defeat by India in the World Cup, Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has taken the decision to dismiss the national cricket board. This action comes after months of conflict between Ranasinghe and Sri Lanka Cricket, the country’s wealthiest sports organization, over allegations of extensive corruption.
The country’s 1996 World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointed chairman of a new interim board, Ranasinghe’s office said in a statement. “Sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe has formed an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket,” the statement said.
Earlier, Ranasinghe wrote to full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) — which has rules against political interference in the sport — asking for understanding and support.
“Sri Lanka Cricket has been besieged with complaints of player disciplinary issues, management corruption, financial misconduct and match-fixing allegations,” Ranasinghe said in the letters, released to Sri Lankan media.
