Sri Lanka will appeal ICC suspension: Sports Minister
The Hindu
Sri Lanka to appeal ICC suspension after poor World Cup performance. Sports Minister Ranasinghe denies political interference, says ICC move unethical. SLC officials deny corruption allegations, seek to lift suspension. Ranatunga heads interim committee, but Silva fights dismissal in court.
Sri Lanka will appeal over its suspension from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said on Saturday, following the national team's dismal World Cup performance.
The ICC, the sport's governing body, suspended Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) membership with immediate effect on Friday, citing government interference in cricket in the country.
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Sport moved to dismiss the SLC board and replace it with an interim committee in the wake of the country's poor World Cup performance, but the country's Court of Appeal has put that move on hold.
In addition, the Parliament in Colombo last Thursday unanimously adopted a proposal to remove the SLC leadership.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr. Ranasinghe denied that there was political interference in the running of Sri Lankan cricket, however, and said the ICC move had been made without any consultation.
"This is not the way. When ICC or any other body apply a ban they have a long procedure .. but this was a surprise, and it is not ethical," Mr. Ranasinghe told reporters.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.