The feud between the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) and the country’s Ministry of Sports has escalated after SLC media releases on November 24 accused the ministry of misleading the public over how funds for the board were spent and interfering in World Cup 2023 selection.

The developments come after the ICC announced that Sri Lanka would be allowed to continue playing international cricket during their suspension from ICC membership. In a media release, the SLC accused the Ministry of Sports of failing to approve both Wanindu Hasaranga’s and Dushmantha Chameera’s selections for the 2023 World Cup.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to reiterate that Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera were included in a 15-member squad selected by the Sri Lanka Cricket Selectors to take part in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023,” the release read. “This was done despite the fact that both players were recovering from injuries.

“Sri Lanka Cricket, despite its intention to send Hasaranga and Chameera to the World Cup with the plan to play them at some point in the tournament after the duo recover from injuries, did not succeed as the sports ministry did not approve the sending of the two players without medical clearance.”

Hasaranga aggravated a hamstring injury before the start of the tournament, while Chameera suffered a pectoral injury. At the time of selection, an SLC statement read “His [Hasaranga’s] recovery will be monitored, and if he is declared fit to play, he will be considered as a replacement in the event of an injury to a squad member during the tournament.” He underwent surgery in the UK soon after.

Sri Lanka finished in ninth place in the 2023 World Cup and failed to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Days after their exit from the tournament, they were suspended by the ICC for a “serious breach of its obligations as a member” relating to government interference in the board’s affairs.

In another statement released by the SLC on Friday (November 24), the board accused the Ministry of Sports of misleading the public over how funding grants were spent. The release read: “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to state that the Ministry of Sports has misled the public and Sri Lanka Cricket by providing confusing details as to how it spent the Rs. 289 million grant provided by SLC to the National Sports Fund.

“A comparison between a document obtained by Sri Lanka Cricket from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs under the Rights to Information (RTI) Act and the media release issued by the Ministry informing how the funds were spent show glaring differences.

“An assessment between the media release of the Ministry and the document received by the SLC show disparities in the figures of 33 items.”

Although Sri Lanka are allowed to continue playing international cricket has been lifted by the ICC, the board is still under suspension. Consequently, the men’s U19 ICC World Cup, which was due to be held in Sri Lanka in January, has been moved to South Africa. Funding for the SLC will also be severely limited during their suspension.

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