Sri Lanka stripped of hosting rights for U19 World Cup funding to be controlled

• Loss could cost SLC approx. USD 16 million dollars
• It will now be hosted by South Africa, depriving Sri Lanka from hosting its first ICC event since 2014

Sri Lanka has lost the hosting rights for the Under 19 Cricket World Cup in January next year, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the conditions of the suspension imposed on  Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) earlier this month.  

While Sri Lanka has been spared of the more harsher punishments that remained a possibility ahead of yesterday’s ICC Board meeting in India – such as been barred from playing international cricket and an outright ban – the loss of the Under 19 Cricket World Cup could cost SLC approximately US 16 million dollars, which it was expected to receive for hosting the tournament.

It will now be hosted by South Africa, depriving Sri Lanka from hosting its first ICC event since 2014.  
The ICC also confirmed that it will control the distribution of funds due to SLC.  

“After hearing representation from SLC, the ICC Board decided that Sri Lanka can continue to compete internationally both in bilateral cricket and ICC events after being suspended recently for breaching its obligations as a Member in particular the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and without government interference,” a statement from the ICC, confirming the conditions of the suspension, read.  

The suspension, effective November 10, was as a result of SLC being unable to meet its requirement, as a member of the ICC, to manage its affairs autonomously and without government interference.  

It bookended a week of upheaval at SLC, with Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe appointing an interim committee earlier that week, while members of Parliament unanimously passed a resolution to remove the incumbent SLC administration.  

ICC’s decision appears to have been compelled by the repeated complaints it received from SLC President Shammi Silva, who wrote to the sport’s world governing body on at least three occasions asking for it to intervene as Ranasinghe attempted to remove the incumbent SLC administration.   

ICC suspension will continue while interim committee in force: SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will continue to be suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) while the Interim Committee appointed by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe remains in force, SLC claimed yesterday.

The ICC issued a statement last evening that laid out the conditions of the suspension, which was handed out as a result of allegations of politicization at SLC, though it made no mention of the Minister’s interim committee.

In a statement of its own, SLC said that though it had been demoted to observer status by the ICC, the international governing body continued to recognize the incumbent SLC administration.    

“The Board decided not to recognize any interim committee and will continue to recognize the elected office bearers of SLC, albeit in an observer capacity due to the suspension. However, the International Cricket Council will continue to recognize SLC President Shammi Silva as SLC’s board representative on the ICC,” the SLC statement read.

“The suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket will continue until the appointment of an interim committee by the Minister of Sports remains in force, as the ICC is of the view that the appointment of an interim committee is political interference in the administration of the SLC,” it also stated.

The ICC was also of the view that ample time had been afforded to rectify the governance issues, SLC claimed.

“Participating in the proceedings as an observer, the President of SLC, Mr. Shammi Silva, urged the Board to grant additional time for the Sri Lankan government to rectify the issue of political interference in cricket. However, the ICC Board, taking cognizance of similar suspensions imposed by World Rugby and FIFA in response to political interference, concluded that ample time had already been afforded to the Sri Lankan government to address and rectify the issue. 
Consequently, the Board confirmed the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket,” the SLC added.