Explained: Why ICC has suspended Sri Lankan cricket board

Just a day after Sri Lanka ended their 2023 Cricket World Cup campaign, ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect.

On Friday, ICC released a statement where they confirmed the news of the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to 'breach of its obligations as a Member'.

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Why did ICC suspend Sri Lanka Cricket?

According to ICC, SLC failed to manage its affairs autonomously and allowed government interference in its administration, which resulted in the board being dissolved.

Their official statement read, 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect. The ICC Board met today and determined that Sri Lanka Cricket is in serious breach of its obligations as a Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka. The conditions of the suspension will be decided by the ICC Board in due course.

Ahead of ICC's quarterly meeting which was scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad between November 18 and 21, the board met online on November 10 to discuss the situation related to SLC.

In the meeting, they found SLC to be guilty of allowing the country's government to get involved in their governance, financing, and also in matters related to their national teams.

Right after Sri Lanka lost their final 2023 Cricket World Cup match against New Zealand, the Sri Lankan parliament on Thursday, passed a resolution to sack the entire SLC board with both ruling and opposition parties agreeing to the motion. 

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What happens to the Sri Lankan cricket teams?

Initially, both men's and women's Sri Lankan cricket teams along with their youth teams were not to be allowed to take part in competitions governed by ICC until the suspension was lifted.

However, on 21 November the ICC confirmed that Sri Lankan teams could play in bilateral and ICC events, but the funding of the SLC would be controlled by the ICC. In addition, the men's U19 World Cup, set to be held in Sri Lanka in January 2024, was shifted to South Africa instead.

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How did Sri Lanka perform in the ICC Cricket World Cup?

Sri Lanka performed miserably in the ongoing Cricket World Cup in India as they finished ninth among 10 teams with four points from nine matches. 

They lost seven games including a humiliating defeat at the hands of hosts India as they were bowled out for just 55 runs in Mumbai. Their only two wins came against England and the Netherlands.

Who will win the 2023 World Cup?

India and Australia are among the favourites for the 2023 World Cup title. The odds are as follows, and you can click here to make your bet (selected regions).