The chaos in Sri Lanka’s cricket is approaching a crisis. A heated dialogue has been created between the various parties responsible for cricket, and social organisations, civil activists, and political interventions are active. It was during this time that Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe suspended the registration of the cricket institute, assigned its affairs to a group led by Arjuna Ranatunga, and appointed an interim committee. However, the court has also given a particular order preventing the functioning of the interim committee.
A ban on interim committee.
The above order was issued by the Court of Appeal after considering a writ petition submitted by Shammi Silva, President of Sri Lanka Cricket. The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne and Vikum Kaluarachchi, have issued these orders to be valid for 14 days. This interim order has been issued preventing the implementation of the gazette notice issued by the sports minister appointing an interim governing body and preventing the members of the cricket interim governing committee headed by Arjuna Ranatunga from working in those positions.
The President is also involved in the problem.
From sports fans to the President, it can be observed that the problems that have arisen in the cricket administration of Sri Lanka have been focused on, and President Ranil Wickramasinghe also recently took steps to appoint a special cabinet sub-committee to look into the related matters. However, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, while speaking in Parliament, said that despite various decisions made by the Sports Minister, the President, and many others, they still need to be clarified.
However, the President of Sri Lanka has said that the responsibility of making prompt recommendations to solve the problems faced by Sri Lanka Cricket has been assigned to the relevant Cabinet Sub-Committee.
The cabinet sub-committee appointed by the President also said that they are working very quickly to restore cricket in Sri Lanka and that they are primarily working to get the opinions of the former players. A spokesperson for the committee said they would take the following steps with the support of the experts.
In the meantime, the club’s displeasure with the cricket interim committee appointed under the chairmanship of Arjuna Ranatunga, a former cricket captain. Arjuna Ranatunga is the captain who led the Sri Lankan team that contributed to Sri Lanka winning the World Cup cricket title in 1996, and it is evident that there is a lot of faith in him among sports fans.
Responsibilities of Interim committee – Corruption investigation priority.
Meanwhile, some special responsibilities have been assigned to the Cricket Interim Committee, and the most important thing is that appropriate action should be taken on the irregularities in the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute. It has been emphasised that the recommendations given by the state audit reports on these irregularities should be implemented promptly.
It has been recommended to the Interim Committee that the investigations be conducted independently and reliably, and the Interim Committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of running Sri Lanka Cricket properly until the investigations are completed and necessary measures are taken. The interim committee has also been entrusted with the responsibility of formulating rules and regulations related to the non-recurrence of misconduct and irregularities in the cricket institution or any institution connected to it.
There is now a situation where there is strong opposition from society to the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute and the authorities. With the defeat of the Sri Lankan team in the match against Bangladesh, the protests are intensifying, and it seems that most of the statements exchanged on social media are related to it.
Opposition to the management of cricket led by Shammi.
There has been a background where people, including sports fans, have started protests in front of the Sri Lanka Cricket Association. Because of the situation, the secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket Association, Mohan de Silva, has also taken steps to resign from his position.
There is severe financial fraud in the cricket administration – ignoring the players.
After the Sri Lankan team suffered a heavy defeat in the decisive match against India in the World Cup cricket series, the opposition against the Sri Lankan Cricket Institute started to arise. In this situation, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe issued a special announcement in which it was stated that the cricket administration and the selection committee should not hang around like genies and resign immediately. A warning was also given that strict measures would be taken if they did not quit. Also before, two days passed, and the sports minister appointed an interim cricket committee.
Shammi Silva
Also, the Sri Lankan cricket administration led by Shammi Silva is facing serious allegations.
Working irregularly with the cricket selection committee and the informal cricket executive committee, which carried out the selection work for 04 years,
Not using the money given by the International Cricket Council to provide basic facilities to the players.
Misappropriation of that money by the cricket administration,
No action or construction of an indoor sports hall to engage in training during rainy seasoning,
Not providing necessary techniques and skills for training,
Also, several serious allegations have been made against the cricket administration regarding financial fraud.
Financial fraud in the Australian Twenty20 Tournament,
The country does not receive any money from the LPL Tournament 2023
Fraud of funds received from the LPL tournament.
Reasons for Sri Lanka’s retreat.
Also, various revelations are taking place regarding the issues that have led to the severe retreat of the Sri Lankan team. It also includes several issues, including paying proper attention to the World Cup.
Organising football matches while the World Cup is in sight,
Leading spinner Wanidu Hasaranga was injured during the LPL tournament and lost the World Cup.
Dushmantha Chamira, Maheez Theekshana, Matisha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara sustained severe injuries during the World Cup.
Not including experienced players like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal in the team,
Removing Dasun Shanaka from the captaincy during the World Cup and causing his mental breakdown even before the start of the tournament,
Pramodya Wickramasinghe
An intense conversation has also been created regarding Pramodya Wickramasinghe. He joins this conversation as the head of the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee. Why was the team tempted to make sudden changes when there were mature players with experience? This is what sports fans are asking. Also, during the World Cup, Angelo Mathews was suddenly invited to the squad by making various changes. The Sri Lanka Selection Committee has suddenly changed its original policy of going ahead with young players. Another question is whether these changes were made and whether it is impractical to continue with young players through social media.
Wins – Losses in Sri Lanka’s ODI history.
Including the matches against India and Bangladesh in the World Cup One Day Cricket Series, the total number of one-day matches the Sri Lankan team has played so far in 2023 is 30. Out of those ODI matches, the Sri Lankan team has been able to win only 16 matches. Sri Lanka has lost 14 matches against India, South Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand this year.
From 1975 to now, the Sri Lankan team has played 908 ODI matches and won 415 matches. Accordingly, the number of lost matches has been calculated as 448. Another five matches have ended in draws, while the remaining 39 matches have ended without a decision.
04 crore for the monthly salary of the coaches – but no use.
In the meantime, it has been revealed that the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute is spending more than three crore eighty-nine lakh rupees only to pay the salaries of the coaches of the Sri Lankan team. The people are asking what benefit has come to Sri Lanka cricket from the coaches who receive a measly salary. Accordingly, the monthly salary of head coach Chris Silverwood is 98 lakh rupees. (US$ 30,000). Also, Mahela Jayawardena, who works as the Sri Lankan team’s training consultant, receives a salary of over sixty-five lakh rupees (20,000 US dollars). Forty-five lakh rupees (14,000 US dollars) to assistant coach Naveed Nawaz, bowling coach Anton Roos, and physical therapist Chris Clarke. Salary is Rs.26 lakh (US$8000) per month.
It has now been revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket is spending twenty-nine lakh rupees for the assistance of another physiotherapist known as Tihan Chandramohan and also spending more than ninety-two lakh rupees for the monthly salaries of a chief executive and two managers.
In such a situation, the Sri Lankan team has become a regressive team, which is the main reason for the acute crisis in Sri Lankan cricket. It has been accepted by the majority of the society that Sri Lanka has talented players, and the reason for this retreat is also being accused of the weak and arbitrary action of the cricket administration.
The fact that the future of cricket in Sri Lanka will be resolved according to the nature of resolving this crisis is a fact that can be asserted at this time.
