- Saturday, May 04, 2024
A few months ago, Prasanna Ranatunga, brother of Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, remarked that the 1996 triumph was the ‘biggest curse’ for sport in the island-nation.
By: Shubham Ghosh
A HUMILIATING loss against hosts India in the ongoing World Cup 2023 has left a major impact on Sri Lanka’s cricket as the country’s sports minister on Monday (6) sacked the national cricket board.
Roshan Ranasinghe was at loggerheads with Sri Lanka Cricket, which is the richest sports body in the island-nation which is battling an economic turmoil, for a while over allegations of widespread corruption. Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to their only World Cup victory in 1996 and a former minister, was appointed as the chairman of an interim board, the minister’s office said in a statement.
“Sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe has formed an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket,” the statement said.
The new board includes seven members, including a retired judge of the country’s top court and a former president of the board.
The move came a day after Mohan de Silva, the board’s second-highest official, stepped down.
Ranasinghe, who assumed office in May last year, publicly sought resignation of the entire board after Sri Lanka suffered a massive 302-run loss against India in Mumbai on November 2. Chasing 358 in 50 overs, the islanders were shot out for 55, thanks to some lethal bowling from the hosts. It was the fourth-lowest total in the 48-year-old history of the World Cup and the lowest for the former world champions.
It was only less than two months ago that Sri Lanka faced a similar humiliation against the same opponents in the final of Asia Cup on their home turf. On that occasion, the islanders were bundled out for 50 after they batted first.
The defeat in the World Cup saw public outcry and police personnel were deployed outside the cricket board’s office in Colombo.
The sports minister said Sri Lanka Cricket officials had no moral right to remain in office. He had previously accused the board of being “traitorous and corrupt”.
Sri Lanka have displayed an inconsistent performance in the ongoing World Cup. They have managed to win only two of their first seven matches — against the Netherlands and England — while they lost despite scoring 340-plus against Pakistan. They also lost against Afghanistan, who have produced a dream run in the tournament.
On Saturday (4), Ranasinghe wrote to full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) — which has rules against political interference in the sport — seeking 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 document released to Sri Lankan media.
Prasanna Ranatunga a cabinet minister and brother of Arjuna — told parliament a few months ago that the 1996 World Cup triumph had been “the biggest curse for our cricket”.
“Money started flowing to the cricket board after 1996 and with that came those who wanted to steal,” he said.
