To fully understand the current state of Sri Lankan cricket affairs, a slightly broader look at the landscape is needed – starting with the appointment of new Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in May 2022, who succeeds Namal Rajapaksa, nephew of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya was eventually forced to resign following widespread protests in the country amid a severe economic crisis, which removed Namal from the role of Sports Minister.
Ranatunga has long been a vocal critic of Sri Lanka Cricket’s executive committee headed by President Shammi Silva, and after the team’s poor T20 World Cup performance, he wasted little time in calling for a change of selectors.
Wickremesinghe defended himself in an interview with the Sri Lankan newspaper The Sunday Times Earlier this month, Asker said: “We are third on the ICC Test Championship points table. Won the country’s first major title in eight years, the Asia Cup, and then earned direct qualification for the T20 World Cup in 2024.” In ODIs we won a series against Australia. Isn’t this the result of our efforts during the last 18 months?”
It seems the SLC are willing to agree with Wickremesinghe, but they are not demanding the ousting of the selectors. This is the job of the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC) appointed by the Sports Ministry.
Earlier this month, the SLC had sent a set of 10 names, including Wickremesinghe, to the NSSC from which to choose the new selection committee. However, the NSSC, without rejecting them outright, expressed dissatisfaction and requested to send an updated list. The NSSC is scheduled to meet on Monday (January 30) to take a final decision.
Political influence on cricketing affairs in Sri Lanka is not unusual in the history since the 1996 World Cup, with a series of interim committees, upheaval in selectors and selection, and captaincy changes.
