In a surprising turn of events, Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, has expressed strong objections and announced that the country will appeal against the ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Addressing the media in a special press conference held this afternoon (10 Nov.) at the Sports Ministry in Colombo, Minister Ranasinghe voiced his disbelief at the sudden implementation of the ban by the ICC. He raised concerns about the lack of prior notice or warning, insisting that such actions are inconsistent with the standard procedures followed by the ICC in similar cases.
Terming it unethical and shocking, Minister Ranasinghe explained that under the ICC's arbitration rules, a country's membership is only suspended after following specific guidelines. This includes notifying the member country of their shortcomings during an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and granting them a year to address these issues before facing a suspension.
Expressing his dismay, the Minister questioned the ICC's decision, asking, "How can they condemn our country like this? They condemned our country without informing us." He further noted that Sri Lanka is not the only ICC member with interim committees and alleged state influence in cricket, implying that the ban may be unfair and discriminatory.
With Sri Lanka set to lodge an appeal, it remains to be seen how the global cricket governing body will respond to the nation's objections. The ICC's decision to impose the ban without following their established procedures has certainly raised eyebrows and sparked a heated debate in the cricketing world.
