Sports Minister brings domestic cricket to a halt

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in a media release yesterday stated that they have decided to immediately halt all tournaments conducted by them on the instructions of the Director-General of Sports.

The media release states:

“Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to immediately halt all board-conducted domestic tournaments. This includes the ongoing Major Club 3-Day Tournament and also the Invitational Club Tier ‘B’ 3-Day Tournament.

“The decision follows the ratification of an appeal advisory committee decision by the Sport and Youth Affairs Minister.

“The Director General of Sports has issued a written instruction dated 25 August, 2023, on Sri Lanka Cricket pursuant to this.

“Accordingly, Sri Lanka Cricket is compelled to suspend all SLC-organised domestic cricket tournaments until clarification is obtained on the same.”

The suspension comes subsequent to one of the clubs playing in the Governor’s Cup not being promoted to play in the Invitational Club Tier ‘B’ 3-day tournament going to courts seeking an injunction. However the courts said to continue the tournament until the next hearing which was fixed for 26 September. Subsequently, the club concerned had taken their grievance to the appeal advisory committee of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

It is learnt that the Sports Ministry has sent a letter to SLC stating that the resolution which was passed at the last EGM on 17 July was not approved by the Sports Minister and therefore to take appropriate action. On the advice of their lawyers SLC took a decision that until the matter is sorted out to suspend all the tournaments. The ball is now in the Sports Minister’s court.

In the meanwhile, the players who make a living out of cricket are in a dilemma because their entire revenue comes to a halt. When they don’t play cricket their match payments and their contract fees are stopped. These players depend on the salary they get from playing cricket to earn a living with some of them supporting their siblings even for their studies. A player earns around Rs. 45,000 for a 3-day match and makes about Rs. 200,000 for a month. What is their plight?