President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in an exclusive interview with Palki Sharma of Firstpost, clarified that BCCI secretary Jay Shah does not have control over Sri Lankan cricket. The recent comments made by former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga regarding Jay Shah’s involvement in Sri Lankan cricket have caused quite a stir in the cricketing world, particularly in India where cricket holds immense popularity.
President Wickremesinghe himself has apologized for the controversy caused by these comments. He revealed that he had a conversation with Jay Shah to address the matter. According to the President, Jay Shah clarified that he supports the legal body governing Sri Lankan cricket, regardless of who it may be. The decision of which body is considered legal is determined by the ICC, not Jay Shah.
Arjuna Ranatunga made these comments following the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the ICC due to political interference. President Wickremesinghe acknowledged that he was aware of the impending suspension, as the opposition had informed him that the Board of Control had written to the ICC requesting the suspension. The President expressed his disappointment as this suspension resulted in the loss of U-19 matches and potential tourism opportunities for Sri Lanka.
President Wickremesinghe is now awaiting the court’s decision regarding the interim committee, after which he plans to engage in discussions with the ICC to ensure that Sri Lanka can once again host cricket matches.
