Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe, ACC President Jay Shah. File
| Photo Credit: Agencies
Following current comments made by former World Cup-winning Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, that Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah was “running” and “ruining” Sri Lanka Cricket, Colombo has reached out to the Indian cricket administrator from the very best stage. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe known as Mr. Shah and expressed remorse over the remarks blaming him for the collapse of Sri Lankan cricket, a Minister informed Parliament on Friday.
“The President spoke to Mr. Shah yesterday [Thursday] morning,” Tourism Minister Harin Fernando informed The Hindu. “Today, me and my Cabinet colleague [Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera] apologised in Parliament for those comments targeting him [Shah],” Mr. Fernando stated.
“We as a Government express our regret to the Asian Cricket Council Chief Jay Shah. We cannot point fingers at him, or other countries, for the shortcomings of our institutions. It is a wrong assumption,” Minister Wijesekera informed Parliament.
The developments come within the wake of Sri Lanka’s poor efficiency in the continuing ICC World Cup, which has left followers at dwelling very dissatisfied. Last week, Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the nationwide cricket board, after Sri Lanka ‘s humiliating defeat against India. Subsequently, the Minister tasked Mr. Ranatunga to lead an interim committee to clean up the country’s cricketing scene, however Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal quashed the sports activities minister’s determination and restored the Cricket Board. In one more escalation for Sri Lankan cricket final week, the International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka’s membership, citing political interference in its administration.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Parliament handed a unanimous decision, calling for the sacking of the nation’s cricket board. During the controversy, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa alleged there was an “international conspiracy” to ban Sri Lanka cricket, naming Jay Shah.
