Sports Minister writes to ICC full members on SLC
In a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has hinted at an interim measure to ‘establish good governance, uphold the rule of law, and create a system of governance that promotes the ethics and spirit of the game’.
A media release from the Ministry of Sports says the minister has personally written to all ICC full members to explain to them of the recent controversies surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the intended action he is planning to take.
“I would like to emphasise that interim measures will only be taken to establish good governance principles, uphold the rule of law, and create a system of governance that promotes the ethics and spirit of the game we all love”, his letter to BCCI states.
Sports Minister and SLC were at loggerheads for a while and his decision to advise the rest of the ICC members suggests that the minister has finally decided on a course of action to restore good governance and transparency at SLC.
“Since 2015, Sri Lanka Cricket has seen a gradual degradation in the quality of Cricket played internationally and locally. Whereas, Sri Lanka Cricket has been besieged with complaints of player disciplinary issues, management corruption, financial misconduct, and match-fixing allegations”.
“Over the years, multiple ministers before me have initiated inquiries into the alleged misconduct of Sri Lanka Cricket. These investigations have resulted in several reports that substantiate the claims against the officials of Sri Lanka Cricket. Due to political crisis and disasters, no action was taken on those reports”.
“However, the recent revelations and Audit Reports published by the Independent Auditor General Department of the country warrants immediate intervention as the minister in charge to bring the perpetrators of financial crimes before the legal system and to establish good governance and transparency in the Sri Lanka Cricket administration. A copy of the latest audit report by the Auditor General Department is attached,” the letter reads.
A copy of the Audit report has also been shared among all ICC members. In his letter he has denied any political interference in the cricket administration.
“I want to stress the fact that neither myself nor any governmental authority has impinged on the operations of Sri Lanka Cricket in any aspect. Further, it has become a habit by the part of Sri Lanka Cricket to hold the threat of suspension of ICC membership as a symbol of blackmail, not to act against their own financial misconduct,” the letter further says.
BENGALURU, India, Nov 4, 2023 (AFP): Swashbuckling opener Fakhar Zaman cracked a blistering century to save Pakistan from World Cup elimination in a rain-affected and dramatic 21-run victory over New Zealand at Bengaluru on Saturday.
The 33-year-old left-hander smashed 11 sixes and eight boundaries in his unbeaten 81-ball 126 as rain forced a premature end to the match with Pakistan 200-1 after 25.3 overs, chasing a revised DLS target of 342 in 41 overs. Rachin Ravindra hit his third century of the tournament while Kane Williamson scored 95 to help New Zealand pile up 401-6 in their 50 overs. Set a mammoth 402-run target initially, Zaman lifted Pakistan to 160-1 after 21.3 overs before a 90-minute stoppage due to rain led to a revised target for Pakistan.
After the resumption, Zaman kept up the tempo, hitting three sixes off spinner Ish Sodhi's 25th over as Pakistan went past the 200-mark. Pakistan had needed to overhaul the original target of 402 in 35.3 overs if they were to get beyond New Zealand's better net run-rate which could prove crucial in the battle for semi-final spots.
However, Abdullah Shafique fell for four in the second over. Zaman and skipper Babar Azam (66) added 194 for the unbroken second wicket stand. Zaman took the attack to the New Zealand bowlers, smashing four sixes and as many boundaries in his 39-ball fifty.
He completed his 11th ODI hundred, and first in a World Cup, with a six and a single off Mitchell Santner. His century came off 63 balls with nine sixes and six boundaries.
Pakistan now have eight points from as many games with their last match against England in Kolkata on November 11. They not only need to win that but also hope New Zealand lose to Sri Lanka on November 9 in Bengaluru at this same venue or the match is hit by rain.