Preparing a bill to implement the new Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) constitution is bound to violate International Cricket Council (ICC) criteria on political Interference, thus resulting another ban for the Island’s most cherished game! However, as it yields political mileage, Sri Lanka politicians, who have mastered the art to use Cricket for their revivals and cheap publicity, are determined to go to any extent to fulfill their agendas!
Ali Sabry, Minister of foreign affairs, has dragged Sri Lanka Cricket towards a complete ICC ban, as the Cabinet of Ministers has given the green light to draft necessary legislation to resolve ongoing issues within SLC. This move follows recommendations from the K.T. Chitrasiri report, which has led to the creation of a new constitution for the organization. The Cabinet’s approval came through a joint proposal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Power and Energy, the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, and the Minister of Public Security.
The move itself is an violation of what was discussed between ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickramasinghe and Sports Minister Harin Fernando earlier this year – that SLC constitution belongs to membership and It, If needed, must be changed through it’s stakeholders only!
Here, a retired judge, ministers of foreign affairs, power and energy, labour and foreign employment and public security are pushing for the constitutional change of a Sports body!
And the joke just doesn’t ends here, as the new draft constitution suggests the governing by a board of directors, In which some of the members will be recommended by an expert committee of president of chartered accountants, president of Bar association and chairperson of chamber commerce!
This is a much bigger attempt to bury the Cricket in Sri Lanka, than Roshan Ranasinghe’s one. The former Sports Minister appointed an Interim committee on the heels of a poor 50 overs World Cup, which ICC deemed as political Interference. Here, the suggestions are to run and control the game through the chamber of commerce and chartered accountants! Indeed, it guarantees a complete ICC ban this time around, which will also be resulted in Sri Lanka losing the T20 World Cup co-hosting rights in 2026!
And, this fate is just around the corner, If, In an election period, Sri Lanka politicians continue their game destroying gimmicks!
