Entire Sri Lanka Cricket Board sacked by Sports Ministry after humiliating loss to India | CWC 2023
On Monday, the Sri Lanka cricket board was fired by Roshan Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka’s minister of sports.
The move comes days after a huge defeat by India at the CWC 2023. The news came just before Sri Lanka was dumped out of the World Cup after a fiery defeat to Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka Cricket Board was slammed by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in a statement on Friday. Board members should step down, he said.
The second-highest position on the board, is the secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mohan de Silva. He resigned on Saturday amid protests by fans outside the board’s headquarters.
Events leading up to a complete sacking
Roshan Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports, took a big step on Monday and fired every member of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.
Public fury and calls for the removal of the Shammi Silva-led SLC board reached a crescendo on November 2. Following a crushing 302-run loss in a CWC 2023 league match in Mumbai. Several protests calling for the removal of the Silva board were held outside the Sri Lanka Cricket Board building in response to these requests.
Riot police were in to protect the building with out-of-control scenes. With the former World Cup captain Arjuna Ranatunga leading the seven-member team, Ranasinghe moved quickly.
Arjuna Ranatunga, 59, the captain of the team that won the World Cup in 1996, is now the head of a new ad hoc board, as per a statement from Ranasinghe’s office.
“Over time, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board gained a reputation for being the most corrupt organization in the country. My goal is to reverse that view,” declared Ranatunga.
Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 gave rise to the power for the founding of this body. Reports of huge corruption have pitted Ranasinghe against the richest sports board in the country, Sri Lanka Cricket, in a big dispute that has lasted for months.
Sri Lanka’s CWC 2023 campaign ends in disappointment
Following Sri Lanka’s 302-run World Cup hammering by hosts India last week, Minister Ranasinghe publicly asked for the removal of the entire Sri Lanka Cricket board. Chasing India’s 358 in Mumbai, Sri Lanka was down 14-6 at one stage and all out for 55. This World Cup total is the fourth-lowest in history.
In addition to being a low performance, Sri Lanka’s crushing loss to India. It is the second-largest margin in the CWC 2023—putting an end to their hopes of making it to the semifinals.
After putting up a huge 357 for 8 in the first innings, India showed off their potent bowling attack at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, dismissing Sri Lanka for just 55 runs. Thanks to a healthy contribution from Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer with the bat.
Mohammed Shami’s great bowling display in the second innings helped him take his third five-wicket haul of the ODI World Cup. The Sri Lankan team found it difficult to reach India’s huge 358-run mark.
With three wickets, Mohammed Siraj also made a big impact. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja each took one wicket. With the big efforts of the Indian bowlers, Sri Lanka was all out in just 19.4 overs for just 55 runs.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh rubbed more salt into their wounds. They beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in a highly feisty CWC 2023 league match in Delhi.
There were dramatic moments in the match from the very first over. Between Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis and Bangladeshi pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and also between Bangladeshi bowlers and Charith Asalanka. However, everything came crashing down when Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews was timed out in the 25th over. He becomes the first player to be timed out.
Sri Lanka’s Champions Trophy 2025 Qualification in Danger
Sri Lanka is at the eighth spot of the CWC 2023 points table. Out of the last eight games, they have only won two. After Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in a controversial league match on Monday, November 6. The race to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 has picked its pace.
Even though they had the same number of points (4 from 8) as Sri Lanka. The Tigers gained two vital points from this victory and moved up to the 7th spot in the points table.
The Champions Trophy 2025 qualification scenario says that the teams finishing in the top eight along with the hosts would directly qualify. Even though the ICC did not notify earlier, this data only became clear during this World Cup. On the other hand, the top seven teams would also directly qualify if the hosts place lower than eight.
Sri Lanka Cricket Board will have to worry about the Netherlands and England. The two teams can surpass them in the CWC 2023 points table and earn the last spot in the Champions Trophy qualification.
