Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe on Monday sacked the National Cricket Board after the humiliating defeat by India in the World Cup. Ranasinghe has been at odds with Sri Lanka Cricket for months over allegations of large-scale corruption. The country's 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointed chairman of the new interim board, Ranasinghe's office said in a statement. According to the statement, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has formed an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket.
The new seven-member panel also includes a retired Supreme Court judge and a former chairman of the board. The move comes a day after the board's second-highest official, Secretary Mohan de Silva, resigned. Ranasinghe had publicly demanded the resignation of the entire board following Sri Lanka's 302-run defeat to hosts India in the World Cup last week. Chasing India's target of 358 runs, Sri Lanka at one time lost six wickets for 14 runs and was reduced to 55 runs, which is the fourth-lowest score in the history of the World Cup.
The defeat sparked public anger and police have been deployed outside the board office in Colombo following protests on Saturday. Ranasinghe had said that Sri Lankan cricket officials have no moral or ethical right to continue in office. He said, 'Board officials should resign voluntarily. He had earlier accused the board of being traitors and corrupt. Sri Lanka has to play against Bangladesh on Monday and will need a miracle if they want to make it to the last four of the World Cup.
Ranasinghe had on Saturday written a letter to the full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking mutual understanding and support. In a letter issued to Sri Lankan media, Ranasinghe said, 'Sri Lanka cricket is surrounded by disciplinary issues of players, management corruption, financial misconduct and allegations of match-fixing. The sports minister was forced by the ICC to withdraw the three-member panel appointed last month to probe alleged corruption at the board as it was considered political interference.
The ICC had no immediate reaction to the latest move by Ranasinghe, who sacked the board elected in May, and chairman Shammi Silva, who is serving a third consecutive term. Sri Lanka has not won the World Cup since 1996 and Ranasinghe blamed the board for the poor standard. Prasanna Ranatunga, another cabinet minister, told Parliament in August that the 1996 victory was the biggest curse for our cricket.
He said, 'After 1996, money started coming into the cricket board, and with it came people who wanted to commit theft and corruption.' Former Sports Minister Harin Fernando introduced tough anti-corruption laws in 2019, saying the ICC considered Sri Lanka one of the most corrupt cricket nations in the world.
Also Read: IND vs SA: South African batsmen surrendered before Indian bowlers, made this shameful record in ODI
SRK's 'Dunki' released: 2 lakh 30 thousand tickets were sold in booking on the first day, and a crowd gathered to watch the film.
Shahrukh Khan's film 'Dunki' has been released today. About 2 lakh 30 thousand tickets of the film have been sold in booking on the first day across the country. These figures are from PVR, Inox, and
'Forgive me...', Selena Gomez cried inconsolably, unhappy with President Donald Trump's decision, received threats!
These days, America has come into the discussion about some of its big decisions around the world. After taking oath as President for the second time, Donald Trump made some decisions which had an
'Even if I resign, those people will have to sit there for 15 years', Amit Shah said- my statement on Ambedkar was distorted.
Home Minister Amit Shah fiercely targeted the Congress in a press conference on Wednesday. He said that till 1990, the Congress kept trying to ensure that BR Ambedkar did not get the Bharat Ratna.
If Team India does not play, will the Asia Cup 2025 be cancelled? PCB fears loss of crores
The Asia Cup 2025 to be held in the month of September is in danger. Reports have emerged that the Indian cricket team will not play in this tournament. There has been no official statement from the
IC-814 series row: Ministry tells Netflix to keep religious sentiments in mind
Introduction
NDA: 'What is the guarantee that Nitish...?' DMK leader's big statement on Bihar politics
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has broken ties with the opposition alliance and joined the NDA camp. When RS Bharti, leader of DMK, an ally of the INDIA alliance, was asked about this, he said, 'What is the
Kisan Andolan: Farmers march to Delhi today, huge rally in Patiala; Warning of agitation if demands are not met
The main factions of the United Kisan Morcha, BKU Ugrahan, Krantikari Kisan Union, and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) held a massive rally at Pudda Ground in Patiala on Tuesday. On this occasion, farmers
Arvind Kejriwal: 'Kejriwal will have to surrender on June 2 itself', SC rejects plea to extend bail
CM Arvind Kejriwal, accused of money laundering in the Delhi Excise Policy scam, has got a setback from the Supreme Court today. The court has refused to accept the petition seeking an extension of
There is no judicial review of constitutional amendment: Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar mentioned NJC in Justice Varma's case, know.
Amid questions being raised on the independence of the judiciary in the case of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has again referred to the National
Raisina Dialogue: PM Modi will inaugurate Raisina Dialogue; New Zealand PM and Tulsi Gabbard will also participate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the three-day 'Raisina Dialogue' on Monday. It is India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics which will be attended by representatives
