It seems like the people who call the shots in the Sri Lankan cricket fraternity aren’t quite happy after the 302-run loss against the hosts, India. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has been sacked or fired after this humiliating defeat and poor performances in the World Cup. And trust me, their performance right now in the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 match isn’t improving the situation.
Check: ICC Cricket World Cup points table 2023
Arjuna Ranatunga, the renowned cricketer who guided Sri Lanka to a memorable World Cup victory in 1996, is now the chairman of a new temporary board. A retired judge and a previous board president are also on this board. Ranatunga’s cricket experience might give Sri Lankan cricket a new lease of life.
Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Squad for World Cup 2023
Mohan de Silva, the second-highest officer, had resigned before the board was sacked. This dramatic shift came in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s humiliating 302-run loss to India, which sparked popular fury.
The team’s performance was so awful that supporters protested in the streets. Ranasinghe had previously stated that the board’s officers should retire since they no longer had moral reasons to remain in their roles.
Many corruption charges, financial fraud and even match-fixing were levelled against Sri Lanka Cricket. Ranasinghe had written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for assistance.
However, the ICC said no to political meddling in cricket. Also, ICC ordered Ranasinghe to cancel the investigating panel he had established. This resulted in the expulsion of a board of directors elected in May.
There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding new leadership. It will be a complex and unpredictable path. Cricket fans worldwide are waiting to see how this narrative plays out.