The Sri Lankan government today officially expressed its regret to Jay Shah, the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, regarding the statement made by former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga about the collapse of the Sri Lankan team. Sri Lanka Latest News
Both Ministers Harin Fernando and Kanchana Wijesekera, who spoke in Parliament today, expressed regret in this regard and stated that the blame should be placed on the administrators of this country and not on the outside world.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe contacted Indian Cricket Board Secretary Jay Shah to discuss the International Cricket Council’s ban on Sri Lanka Cricket.
Minister Harin Fernando warned that the ban on Sri Lankan cricket is harmful to the country as the International Cricket Council’s ban will affect the Under-19 World Cup to be held in January next year.
“If the ICC ban is not lifted, no one will come to Sri Lanka for tournaments. Sri Lanka also does not earn a single penny from the cricket tournament.” He pointed out.
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, who commented further on this matter, said that the President has authorized the cabinet sub-committee headed by Foreign Minister Ali Sabri to discuss the issue of Sri Lankan cricket with the International Cricket Council.
Accordingly, the committee has requested a meeting from the International Cricket Council, Minister Wijesekera further said.
Explaining the task of the committee, the minister said that the committee is tasked with studying the current crisis surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket and making appropriate recommendations for the necessary changes.
“We have held relevant discussions with the representatives of Sri Lanka Cricket and the Ministry of Sports. However, our primary responsibility is to work towards lifting the ban imposed by the International Cricket Council,” he said.
Minister Wijesekera added that the ban of the International Cricket Council affects not only the men’s national team but also the women’s team as well as the under-21 and under-19 teams and the cricketers will not be allowed to continue.
Earlier this month, the governing body of the International Cricket Council announced that Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the International Cricket Council has been suspended with immediate effect.
