Apex Council lifts ban on Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect
Sri Lanka Cricket (Image Credit: Twitter)
After being suspended for more than two months by the Apex Council, Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership has been restored. On November 10 last year, after the 1996 ODI World Cup winners exited from the semis race, were suspended due to political intervention in the board. As per the rules of the Apex Council “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.”
After the ban, SLC vice president said “As a Full Member, it is our right to go to the Council,” SLC vice-president Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo*. “The government will have to give 100% assurance that there will be no interference. Otherwise, the suspension will mean that Sri Lanka can’t play cricket. You saw what happened to Zimbabwe [in 2019, Zimbabwe Cricket had been suspended by the ICC over government interference].”
During the World Cup, the team failed not only to qualify for the semis but also to finish in the top eight. This meant that the team failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025. In the history of the tournament, Sri Lanka won’t be part of the team for the first time. Also, the tournament, which was scrapped in 2017, is making it’s comeback next year in Pakistan. Seven years back, Pakistan won the title.
“are now satisfied that SLC are no longer in breach of membership obligations,” the Apex Council said in a recent statement.
