Last Update on: November 6th, 2023 at 01:52 pm
In the wake of Sri Lanka‘s disastrous display in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board has been dissolved.
With just two wins from seven games, the Islanders are currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. They are already out of the semifinal race and are also in danger of missing out on a spot for the 2025 Champions Trophy. While Sri Lanka have not done really well in ODIs in recent times, expectations were really high for them after their performance in the Asia Cup where they finished runners-up.
However, the 1996 World Cup winners failed to live up to the expectations. They began their campaign with three defeats in a row, losing to South Africa, Pakistan, and Australia before beating the Netherlands and reigning champions England. But any hopes of revival soon ended after Afghanistan thrashed them by 7 wickets. And it was followed by another humiliating defeat against India.
SLC board resigns after Sri Lanka’s horror show:
Chasing down an improbably total of 358, Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry total of 55. Earlier during the Asia Cup final, they were bowled out for just 50 runs against the Men in Blue. The humiliating loss to India as well as the overall poor performance has forced the SLC board members to resign.
On Monday (November 6), Sri Lanka Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe dissolved the SLC board and appointed an interim board chaired by World Cup-winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga. Ranasinghe has mandated the new board to clean up the system and bring in accountability. The decision, however, has not gone down well with the President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe.
According to local reports, the President and the Sports Minister are at loggerheads after the former was not notified about the new Interim Committee. They are likely to discuss the issue during a cabinet meeting on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, the Islanders will be desperate to get back to winning ways and win their last two games. They will be in action next on Monday when they take on Bangladesh in Delhi. A win against Bangladesh will pretty much seal their spot in the next Champions Trophy.
