Arjuna Ranatunga Accuses BCCI Secretary of Ruining Sri Lankan Cricket
Image Source: News18
In a scathing critique, former Sri Lanka and World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has accused Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah of contributing to the downfall of Sri Lankan cricket. Following Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they failed to advance past the league stage, Ranatunga slammed the close ties between Shah and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials.
Ranatunga alleged that the connection between Jay Shah and SLC officials has given the BCCI the impression that they can control and dominate Sri Lanka Cricket. He emphasized that Jay Shah’s influence is detrimental to SLC, stating, “SLC is being ruined because of pressure from Jay Shah. One man in India is ruining Sri Lankan cricket.”
The former ace batter didn’t mince words, asserting that Jay Shah’s power is derived from his father, who serves as India’s Home Minister. This criticism is not the first from Ranatunga, as he had previously questioned the authorities during the Asia Cup 2023 for altering rules before the India vs Pakistan match.
Ranatunga expressed concern over the interference of powerful boards in cricket and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to maintain the integrity of the game. Referring to the Asia Cup scheduling dispute, he highlighted the dangers of modifying tournament regulations to favor specific teams and criticized the silence of governing bodies.
The recent turmoil in Sri Lankan cricket escalated when the entire cricket board was sacked by Sri Lanka’s sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe after their disappointing World Cup performance. However, Sri Lanka’s courts reinstated the board a day later, leading to a 14-day stay order on the gazette that dissolved the board. Subsequently, the ICC suspended the Sri Lanka cricket board due to extensive government interference in its administration.
Ranatunga, known for his leadership on the field, now finds himself at the forefront of cricket administration in Sri Lanka as the head of an interim committee formed to address the challenges faced by the cricket board. The controversy surrounding the influence of external entities in Sri Lankan cricket underscores the delicate balance required for the autonomy and growth of cricket boards worldwide.
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