As per Sri Lanka’s sports minister Harin Fernando, the International Cricket Council has lifted the ban that was imposed on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect.
The official media release for the information will be out soon, confirmed the Sri Lanka official. On November 10, 2023, ICC suspended the Sri Lanka Cricket Board as it was a “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.”
However, later in November 2023, Sri Lanka were allowed to play international cricket despite the ban but the hosting rights of the ICC U19 World Cup 2024 were taken from SLC, and the competition was shifted to South Africa.
ICC lifts ban from Sri Lanka Cricket
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ICC lifts the ban that was imposed on Sri Lanka with immediate effect. Offical media release will be follow soon – Sports Minister Harin Fernando #sportspavilionlk #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/EeUuebSALW
— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) January 28, 2024
The International Cricket Council further issued a press release and informed in brief about the whole development. ICC informed that it has lifted the ban from Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect. The Sri Lanka Cricket board was suspended for the violation of its responsibilities as a member nation. The cricket board had to ensure that there is no government interference in the cricketing governing body, which the country failed to do so, due to which they were suspended.
However, on November 21, in the ICC board meeting, it was decided that Sri Lanka would be allowed to compete in international series but its hosting rights of the U19 World Cup were shifted to South Africa.
Sri Lanka had a horrible campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023 and finished in the ninth position. The Sri Lankan cricket team dealt with a lot of injuries throughout the tournament with leading players such as Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga being ruled out of the tournament. The team also lost captain Dasun Shanaka in the middle of the tournament due to an injury.
After Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, the Sri Lankan sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the whole Sri Lanka Cricket board due to the corruption in the cricketing body. Ranasinghe later formed an interim committee to look into the matters of the board led by former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga.
However, the decision was overturned by the Sri Lankan court, which later reestablished the country’s cricket board. This restoration of the board was for two weeks, however, now when the ban is lifted from Sri Lanka Cricket, the team will now aim to prepare for the upcoming ICC tournaments.