ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports Dismisses Cricket Board, Instates Interim Committee Led by Arjuna Ranatunga

After a disheartening performance in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports, Roshan Ranasinghe, took decisive action on Monday by removing the existing cricket board members and installing an interim committee led by the former World Cup-winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga. This seven-member committee also includes two retired Supreme Court judges.

Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports Takes Drastic Action: Dismisses Cricket Board and Instates Interim Committee with Arjuna Ranatunga at the Helm

In the wake of a lackluster World Cup campaign, the Sri Lankan government made a significant move by relieving the cricket governing body of its duties and appointing an interim committee, as confirmed by an official statement from the Ministry of Sport on Monday. With just two wins in seven World Cup matches, Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals were all but dashed.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board faced severe backlash from disappointed fans following a crushing 302-run defeat to the host nation, India, last Thursday. Minister of Sports, Roshan Ranasinghe, did not mince words, labeling the governing body, Sri Lanka Cricket, as “unfaithful and tainted” in a statement issued on Friday, demanding the resignation of board members. Responding to the public outcry, the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mohan de Silva, the second-highest-ranking official in the board, tendered his resignation on Saturday, amidst protests by fans outside the board’s headquarters.

In a swift move, Minister of Sports, Roshan Ranasinghe, relieved the remaining board members of their duties on Monday and replaced them with an interim committee, led by the former World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, according to the ministry’s official announcement.

This seven-member committee also includes two retired Supreme Court judges. Sri Lanka, currently in the seventh position in the group stage, is scheduled to face Bangladesh in their penultimate match on Monday.

Sri Lanka will strive to secure a victory against Bangladesh at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, despite challenging air pollution conditions, with an eye on qualifying for the Champions Trophy and salvaging some positives from their underwhelming ODI World Cup campaign. Nevertheless, their fate will depend on the outcomes of other matches as well.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have clashed in 53 One Day Internationals (ODIs), with the Lankan Lions emerging victorious in 42 of these encounters, while the Bangla Tigers have only managed to win nine. Two matches ended without a result. In the ODI World Cup, both teams have crossed paths three times, with Sri Lanka emerging as the victor on all three occasions.