ICC suspension of Srilanka
Context:
- On November 10, the International Cricket Council (ICC), cricket’s world governing body, suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) over government interference.
- In a statement, the ICC said that SLC was in “serious breach of its obligations as a Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka.”
What are ICC rules on govt. interference?
- According to article 2.4, clause D of the ICC Memorandum & Articles of Association, each member must at all times “manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasipublic body) interference in its governance, regulation and/or administration of Cricket in its Cricket Playing Country (including in operational matters, in the selection and management of teams, and in the appointment of coaches or support personnel).”
- While there is no bar on politicians holding office, the ICC requires that all decisionmaking rests with an executive body whose officeholders are determined via free and democratic elections.
- On the day of the suspension, it is reported that “Sri Lanka’s sports minister has had the role of ratifying all national teams, as per the nation’s sports law, which has been in place since 1973.”
Have there been past instances of ICC cracking the whip?
- SLC is the second full ICC member to be suspended in recent times after Zimbabwe in 2019 for similar reasons.
- In 201415, SLC was demoted to observer status from that of a full member after an interim committee led by former Test player Sidath Wettimuny took the place of the then president Jayantha Dharmadasa and his team.
Syllabus: Prelims
