Sri Lanka Cricket Is Most Corrupt Institution, Says Sports Minister

AFP/APP

Colombo: Sri Lanka Cricket has become known as the most corrupt institution in the country. I want to change that image, said Sri Lanka Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe.

Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the national cricket board on Monday after Sri Lanka’s 302-run World Cup thrashing by hosts India last week.

Minister publicly demanded the entire board’s resignations.

Sri Lanka were at 14-6 and were all out for 55, the fourth-lowest World Cup total in history, while chasing India’s 358 in Mumbai.

The defeat prompted public outcry and police have been deployed outside the board office in Colombo since Saturday, when there were angry protests.

Ranasinghe said that Sri Lanka Cricket officials had no moral or ethical right to remain in office.

“They should voluntarily resign,” he said, having previously accused the board of being “traitorous and corrupt”.

The country’s 1996 World Cup-winning skipper, Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointed chairman of a new interim board, informed Roshan’s office said in a statement.

Three judges were included on the seven-member panel to help investigate corruption, Sports Minister added.

Ranasinghe has been at loggerheads with Sri Lanka Cricket, the richest sports organization on the financially-stricken island, for months over allegations of widespread corruption.

The move came a day after the board’s second-highest officer, secretary Mohan de Silva, quit.

Sri Lanka play Bangladesh later Monday and need a mathematical miracle if they are to squeeze into the last four of the World Cup.