England's 2024 Test Opponents Face Ban
Sri Lanka has been suspended from all international cricket due to "serious breaches" of rules, following their disappointing performance at the Cricket World Cup. The country's sports minister fired the entire Sri Lanka Cricket board in response to the team's ninth-place finish, which included just two wins and seven defeats. The suspension has immediate effects and also impacts England, who lost to Sri Lanka by eight wickets last month.
Ban Affects Upcoming Test Series
The ban has consequences for England's Test team, as they were scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a three-match series next summer. The fixtures were set to take place at Old Trafford, Lord's, and The Oval. However, with the suspension in place, the series is now in jeopardy.
ICC Takes Action
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket's membership, citing "serious breach of obligations" as a member. The ICC board met to discuss the situation and found evidence of government interference in the governance, regulation, and administration of cricket in Sri Lanka. The conditions of the suspension will be determined by the ICC board in the near future.
Government Interference and Indefinite Suspension
The suspension comes after Sri Lanka's sports minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, sacked the entire Sri Lanka Cricket board following the World Cup campaign. Although an interim committee was put in place, the courts reinstated the board. The ICC's punishment was a result of extensive government interference, particularly in finance and national team matters. The length of the ban has not been specified, suggesting an indefinite suspension.
Next Steps for Sri Lanka
The ICC met online to discuss the situation and will continue the conversation at their next quarterly meeting from November 18-21. The duration and specific conditions of Sri Lanka's suspension are expected to be determined during this meeting. Zimbabwe faced a similar suspension in 2019, with the entire cricket board being replaced by the sports and recreation commission.
