The International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect, saying that the country’s cricket body was no longer in breach of the global body’s “membership obligations”. The decision comes after Sri Lanka lost the hosting rights of the ongoing U19 Men’s World Cup, which was moved to South Africa after the ICC suspended the country’s membership due to government interference.
Sri Lanka’s membership of the ICC was suspended due to government interference on November10 after Sri Lanka’s ministry of sport dismissed SLC’s board and replaced it with an interim committee.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has today lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect. The Board have been monitoring the situation since the suspension and are now satisfied that SLC are no longer in breach of membership obligations,” the ICC said in a statement on Sunday, January 28.
Sri Lanka appointed a new selection committee, headed by former opener Upul Tharanga, after reinstating their sacked members in December 2023. Tharanga was appointed as the chairman of a 5-member selection committee, which was named for 2 years.
Former cricketers Ajantha Mendis, Indika de Saram, Tharanga Paranavitana and Dilruwan Perera are the other selectors.
Sports Minister Harin Fernando had reinstated the sacked members of the board in December. Notably, the ICC had been keeping an eye on the Sri Lanka cricket administration, which has seen several allegations of corruption and mismanagement over the years.
Sri Lanka came up with a disappointing show in the ODI World Cup in India last year and selection trouble dominated headlines during their poor run.
The lifting of the suspension is welcome news for Sri Lanka, but the board lost the hosting rights of the U19 World Cup.
