Amidst the recent suspension of Sri Lanka’s cricket by the ICC, the world’s second-largest cricket website, Cricbuzz, sheds light on the criteria behind such actions. Cricbuzz reports that the ICC board can initiate a cricket ban in a member country only upon receiving an official complaint from the cricket governing body of that nation.
In a special statement to Cricbuzz, a top ICC official emphasized that the international cricket governing body will not intervene to suspend cricket in a country without a formal complaint from the relevant member. This clarification comes in the context of Sri Lanka’s recent cricket ban, a move that has sparked discussions within the cricketing community.
According to Indian cricket journalist Vijay Tagore’s article on Cricbuzz, the ICC did not take action against countries like South Africa, Pakistan, and Afghanistan when their respective governments intervened in their cricket boards. The key factor in these cases was the absence of a formal request from the existing cricket governing bodies for the ICC to take extreme measures such as a cricket ban.
The article highlights the significance of two letters sent by Shammi Silva, the chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket, to the ICC on November 6 and 7. The letter on November 09 played a pivotal role in the decision to ban Sri Lanka’s cricket. In this letter, Silva stressed the urgency of ICC intervention to safeguard Sri Lankan cricket, expressing concerns about the democratic process within the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute and the broader principles of cricket administration.
The ICC took particular note of Silva’s allegations regarding threats to the homes and families of elected members of the Sri Lanka Cricket. Additionally, the statement by the Chairman of the Cricket Board about the minister allegedly seeking money from Sri Lanka Cricket for non-cricket-related purposes contributed to the severity of the situation.
For further details on the ICC decision regarding SLC and the U19 World Cup, the Cricbuzz article can be accessed hereICC decision on SLC and U19 World Cup expected on Tuesday | Cricbuzz.com