ICC opposes political meddling; rejects Interim Committee for SLC
View(s):The possibility of an interim administration for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been banished after the game’s global body, the International Cricket Council, rejected any form of political interference in cricket administration.
With pressure within the Government increasing to dissolve the Board alleging various malpractices and corruption, Minister of Sports Harin Fernando met ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar in Nagpur, India, this week to seek a mandate. He has not received a greenlight as the ICC oppose political meddling in cricket administration. Arjuna Ranatunga, former World Cup winning skipper turned MP and Minister, as well as Minister Navin Dissanayake have been pushing the Government higher-ups to put the Board under interim administration.
Ranatunga, a vehement critic of the current cricket administration, in a recent speech in Parliament asked Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe all corrupt practices reported at the Maitland Place headquarters.
“I had a very cordial discussion with him (Shashank Manohar) but the problem is they do not like interim committees,” the Sports Minister told reporters in Colombo. The ICC Chairman is due to arrive here for a four-day visit to Sri Lanka starting on August 23 to discuss some key issues, he said.
The ICC confirmed his visit in August. Minister Fernando recently presented to Parliament two concept papers outlining sweeping changes to SLC’s Constitution.
The proposal prepared by former national cricketers Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama and Sidath Wettamuny outlines SLC’s present structure, and how and why it should be reformed including setting up of a Board of Governors to overlook the Executive Committee.
The need to reform SLC’s electoral process is identified to be of paramount importance given a large number of paper clubs that exist.SLC has been under scrutiny over many issues.
While the ICC is conducting a widespread investigation on match-fixing, the Criminal Investigation Department is looking into a financial fraud involving broadcast funds. Government Auditors are also in the process of completing a forensic audit on its financial transactions. The report, due for a while, has been held back.