In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s disappointing campaign in the ICC World Cup 2023, the cricketing nation found itself entangled in a web of controversies, including the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Adding fuel to the fire, former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga pointed fingers at Jay Shah, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and BCCI secretary, holding him responsible for the nation’s cricketing woes.
Sri Lanka’s World Cup journey was far from triumphant, securing only two wins in nine league matches and ending up in the ninth position, thereby missing out on the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification. The internal turmoil within Sri Lanka Cricket, marked by government interference and subsequent suspension by the ICC, further compounded their woes.
In a surprising turn of events, Arjuna Ranatunga, a cricketing legend in Sri Lanka, publicly accused Jay Shah of being a significant factor in the decline of the nation’s cricket. Despite persistent criticism of Sri Lankan Cricket for governance issues and corruption, Ranatunga’s focus on Shah added a controversial twist to the narrative.
In response to Ranatunga’s accusations, ministers of the reigning Sri Lankan government, Harin Fernando and Kanchana Wijesekara, extended their apologies to Jay Shah. During a parliamentary session, Wijesekara emphasized that blaming the ACC Secretary or other countries for Sri Lanka’s institutional shortcomings was a misguided assumption. The government expressed regret for Ranatunga’s statements, distancing itself from the blame game.
“We as a Government express our regret to the Asian Cricket Council Cheif Jay Shah. We cannot point hands at the Asian Cricket Council Secretary or other countries for the shortcomings of our institutions. It is a wrong assumption,” said Wijesekera during a parliament speech on Friday (November 17), as reported by Sri Lanka-based ‘NewsWire’.
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Acknowledging the severity of the situation, President Ranil Wickremesinghe initiated a critical conversation with Jay Shah to address the ICC’s ban on Sri Lanka Cricket. Minister Fernando highlighted the potential repercussions, expressing concerns about Sri Lanka’s participation in the upcoming U-19 World Cup at home and the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean & USA. The fear looms large that without the ICC ban being lifted, Sri Lanka might face challenges in hosting tournaments and financial losses.
“If the ICC ban is not lifted, no one will visit Sri Lanka for the tournament. Sri Lanka will also not earn a single penny from the cricket tournament,” he said.
