NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect.
The cricket’s global governing body had suspended SLC on November 10 last year citing political interference in its functioning and subsequently the U-19 World Cup scheduled in the island nation was also shifted to South Africa.
The SLC then filed an appeal against their suspension with the ICC on November 21.
Earlier in January this year, ICC CEO Jeff Allardice held ‘constructive’ discussions with the country’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe and sports minister Harin Fernando and the board was hopeful that its international suspension would be revoked.
“SLC was suspended in November for being in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC 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 Board have been monitoring the situation since the suspension and are now satisfied that SLC are no longer in breach of membership obligations,” the ICC said in a release.
In November last year, Fernando’s predecessor Roshan Ranasinghe had wanted to replace the entire SLC board with an interim committee headed by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga.
However, the move was stayed by the country’s court of appeal.
The ICC subsequently suspended SLC, a decision that had the support of some Lankan officials.
Ranasinghe was eventually removed from his position, which revived hopes of the suspension being revoked in the next ICC board meeting.
(With inputs from PTI)
The cricket’s global governing body had suspended SLC on November 10 last year citing political interference in its functioning and subsequently the U-19 World Cup scheduled in the island nation was also shifted to South Africa.
The SLC then filed an appeal against their suspension with the ICC on November 21.
Earlier in January this year, ICC CEO Jeff Allardice held ‘constructive’ discussions with the country’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe and sports minister Harin Fernando and the board was hopeful that its international suspension would be revoked.
“SLC was suspended in November for being in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC 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 Board have been monitoring the situation since the suspension and are now satisfied that SLC are no longer in breach of membership obligations,” the ICC said in a release.
In November last year, Fernando’s predecessor Roshan Ranasinghe had wanted to replace the entire SLC board with an interim committee headed by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga.
However, the move was stayed by the country’s court of appeal.
The ICC subsequently suspended SLC, a decision that had the support of some Lankan officials.
Ranasinghe was eventually removed from his position, which revived hopes of the suspension being revoked in the next ICC board meeting.
(With inputs from PTI)