ICC Lifts Ban on Sri Lanka Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board on Sunday lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect.

ICC Stated -

SLC was suspended in November for being in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation, and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka
~ICC statement

The Board has been monitoring the situation since the suspension and is now satisfied that SLC is no longer in breach of membership obligations

ICC Banned and Minister Sacked the Board -

The ICC suspended Sri Lanka in November last year citing political interference. The national team's performance in the ODI World Cup was causing tension in Sri Lankan cricket. Sri Lanka did not make it into the 2025 Champions Trophy after finishing ninth in the points rankings.

The SLC management was fired by Sri Lankan Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, who also named former World Cup captain Arjuna Ranatunga as the head of a seven-person temporary council to oversee the cricket board. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeal reversed that.

The Sri Lankan parliament unanimously approved a motion later in the week calling for SLC's dismissal. It had the backing of parties on both sides of the dispute.

The ICC seemed displeased with the resolution that the Sri Lankan parliament approved. Due to the suspension, Sri Lanka is no longer eligible to host the U-19 World Cup. Early this month, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice was in Colombo and had meetings with Fernando and Wickremesinghe.

The government announced that it was drafting a new sports act that would forbid political meddling in the management of sports.