ICC bans Sri Lanka Cricket for a second time for political interference. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)

ICC bans Sri Lanka Cricket for a second time for political interference. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)

The ICC has at long last cracked the whip over Sri Lanka’s political riddled cricket administration and governance by banning the country with immediate effect.

The decision came shortly after Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister’s knee jerk reaction to a sub standard showing at the Cricket World Cup in India.

Under Sri Lanka law, the Sports Ministry oversees all matters relating to sport. But in this instance all hell broke loose when the country, which has been successful in most editions of this tournament, was humbled by the lersser knowns, challenging the pride of a once fierce competitor.

It is widely reported that Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe immediately used his powers to dissolve the existing administration headed by Shammi Silva and proceeded to install an interim committee headed by former World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunge.

Incenced parties have reacted to the Minister’s directive by involving Lanka’s legal system who questioned the decision and issued a stay order until and after an investigation about its legality.

Amidst the chaos, it is believed that Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremasinghe has thrown his hat into the situation muddying the waters further by overriding his Minister’s action.

Political interference in democratically appointed Sports administration is taboo under the ICC guidelines. Hence the ICC’s decision to expell the country for a second time in its history.

A media announcement sent to Elanka and worldwide media organisations is as below. INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL SRI LANKA CRICKET SUSPENDED BY ICC BOARD “The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect.

The ICC Board met today 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 conditions of the suspension will be decided by the ICC Board in due course. “

ENDS