Kumar Sangakkara, one of the greatest batsman in world cricket history, has strongly opined against any offer to promote him in becoming International Cricket Council (ICC) president.
Yesterday, Cricket Age had published that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Mohan De Silva, from nowhere and with hidden agendas, had told a local news paper on Friday that the board would promote Sangakkara for ICC presidency!
“We are waiting for Sangakkara’s term be over at the MCC. Once his term is over there, we have a plan to utilize his knowledge at the SLC. We also want to promote him for the big post in the ICC” Mohan De Silva had told a local news paper on Friday.
“All these years, there has been no ICC president / chairman from Sri Lanka and Sanga is the ideal candidate for this post. Once we nominate him, will seek support from other Board members,” he added further.
However, reacting on Mohan De Silva’s offer, Sangakkara on twitter, clearly stated that he has no interest in being promoted by anyone.
“The problem is that I am not keen nor do I have any interest in being promoted” Sangakkara said, making a mockery of Mohan De Silva’s laughable statement.
Cricket Age had published yesterday itself that Mohan De Silva made that statement more as a loyal of former SLC president Thilanga Sumatipala than as a board secretary. Cricket Age had published that Majority of SLC past and present administrators and officials didn’t endorse Mohan De Silva sentiment, largely because of the certain protocols, which plays the important role in nominating someone for ICC top posts for any cricket board. Many are on the opinion that to become an ICC President, one needs to be associated with the governing body as one of the director of the governing body and attend ICC meetings. So, even if SLC people thinks on Sangakkara, they can’t nominated him directly, as he will be termed as an outsider. It also revealed that none of the SLC top officials, administrators have discussed about this matter at all, as Maitland place has remained closed since last one and half month.
“Though, Sangakkara, along with iconic Arjuna Ranatunga, deserves to become ICC president, it’s bizarre that Mohan De Silva is floating this topic at this time of period, when former left handers MCC tenure has just recently extended till September 2021. Before Sangakkara’s turn over, the SLC is schedulled to go for an election. Considering this fact, it seems rather than showing SLC sentiment, Mohan De Silva has spoken on behalf of Sumathipala” a former SLC administrator told Cricket Age.
Aldo, if one look at ICC current situation, even then Mohan De Silva’s statement seems untimely, a hurried one! Shashank Manohar, ICC present President who was earlier expected to step down in June, has been given couple of months extension as the world governing body’s board meetings remains suspended due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. When Manohar steps down, England Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves has already been touted as next ICC Chief. So, not only Sangakkara is committed to MCC till September 2021, ICC Top post also won’t be available until October 2022.
