New Delhi: The ICC World Cup saw series of big losses & surprise upsets in its 2023 edition. Defending champions England got relegated to bottom of the points table while once World Cup champion Sri Lanka got severe thrashing from rival teams including the smaller ones.
The big breaking development of the hour is that Sri Lankan government has rescinded its whole cricket board after ignominious & humiliating loss in the tournament, especially against India.
Sri Lanka Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe announced the suspensions of national cricket board today, over highly disappointing performance of the Sri Lankan cricket team in the ongoing World Cup.
The suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket board (SLC) comes on back of strong public anger against the players & administrators, post their dismal show. Fans have been protesting out SLC headquarters from Saturday, after Lanka’s humiliating 302 runs defeat to India.
Lanka Sports Minister in a press today rebuked & reprimanded the cricket team and also claimed ‘corruption in the ranks’ as the reason behin it.
Moments after he demanded resignation of board members, Mohan de Silva, SLC secretary quit the post.
Hundreds of Lankan cricket fans were holding demonstration outside the SLC premises and demanded that the office-bearers must step down.
Fans singing “Vande Mataram” during India vs Sri Lanka match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 😍😍🇮🇳🇮🇳
The atmosphere was electric today.#INDvsSL #INDvSL #ViratKohli #ShubmanGill #RohitSharma #ShreyasIyer #Shami #Bumrah #Siraj pic.twitter.com/5Zu788Pv9p
— CricWiz (@CricWizTalks) November 2, 2023
Arjun Ranatunga takes interim charge
While the cricket board remains suspended, former Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga has taken charge as the interim chairman of board. Notably, Ranatunaga-led Lanka team had a super successful campaign in 1996 World Cup and also won the trophy that year. The newly formed selection committee also comprises of a retired Supreme Court judge and also a former Board President.
Owing to their back to back routs in the tournament , the Lankans are currently placed at 7th spot in the table. They have just 4 points from 7 matches. Their probability for semi-final looks highly improbable as top 4 teams have already consolidated their points.
Lanks’s record debacle to India
Reports suggest that Lanka’s awful loss to Team India worked as the trigger behind complete overhaul of cricket board. The match between the two teams at Wankhede Stadium saw India posting a total of 357 runs while the latter getting bundled out at just 55 runs.
As Sri Lanka began pursuit of staggering 357 runs, the whole batting line-up collapsed at merely 55 runs. India’s pierce bowling led by the likes of Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj & Jasprit Bumrah cut through its ranks, leaving it helpless & miserable. Md Shammi secured his 5-wicket haul in this match. Sri Lanka got all out in less than 20 overs.
Notably, this was not one embarrassing loss against Team India. Sri Lanka suffered big rout against the Men in Blue, just month ago during the Asia Cup tournament. In September 17 match in Colombo, Sri Lankan team was left red-faced when it got bundled out for just 50 runs and the Men in Blue walked away with easy victory.
India defeats Sri Lanka by a massive 302 runs
Watch this special conversation at Wankhede Stadium as three generations of one family witness the match@tapasjournalist #INDvsSL #CWC23INDIA #Cheer4Bharat #ICCCricketWorldCup pic.twitter.com/4i4KnDIaLC
— DD News (@DDNewslive) November 2, 2023
