Sri Lanka Cricket (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva has resigned from his post with immediate effect, creating a major shake-up in the governance of cricket in Sri Lanka.In an official statement released on Wednesday, the SLC confirmed that not only Silva, but also all office bearers and members of the executive committee had resigned.
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James Hopes reacts after PBKS loss, calls it ‘reality check’“The President of Sri Lanka Cricket, Shammi Silva, has tendered his resignation from the post with effect from today. Along with him, the office bearers and members of the SLC Executive Committee have also tendered their resignations,” the board said.The resignations were formally announced by Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage.Silva first became SLC president in 2019 after replacing Thilanga Sumathipal. Over the years, he strengthened his position on the board and served four consecutive terms, with most of his elections uncontested.During his leadership, Sri Lanka enjoyed some success, including the Asia Cup titles for both the men’s and women’s teams. However, the national side has also struggled badly in major ICC tournaments.According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Sri Lanka men’s team suffered disappointing campaigns in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 and 2026 World T20 Cups. The team’s international ranking also declined during Silva’s tenure.Even the recent appointment of Gary Kirsten as head coach failed to dampen mounting criticism of the board and calls for an administrative change.While the SLC has not officially revealed the reason for the mass resignations, the move represents one of the biggest changes in cricket governance in Sri Lanka in recent years.
what is now
The Sri Lankan government has temporarily taken control of Sri Lankan cricket, saying the move is aimed at bringing “structural reforms” to the sport. The decision came a day after SLC president Shammi Silva and the entire executive committee resigned following government intervention.“All administrative functions of cricket in Sri Lanka will be temporarily transferred to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, effective today,” the ministry said, according to AFP.The government added that a new committee would soon be appointed to “address current issues in cricket and carry out structural reforms”.Sri Lanka Cricket has long faced allegations of corruption and mismanagement, while the national team recently suffered an early exit from the T20 World Cup.
