Sports Minister calls for reports on exclusion of Karunaratne and SLC affairs

Friday, 25 November 2022 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has instructed Sports Director-General to submit a report to him on the exclusion of Sri Lanka cricketer Chamika Karunaratne from the Sri Lanka team for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan and on the number of SLC officials travelling to Australia for the T20 World Cup.

Sports Minister wants a report from the National Selection Committee on why Karunaratne was not selected when he was second in the rankings and has also been Man of the Series in two previous series. He also questioned whether there was any religious influence involved in Karunaratne’s non-selection. Various MPs have also expressed the same views. On Wednesday Sri Lanka Cricket said that the three-member panel inquiring into the alleged violations by nationally contracted player Karunaratne has found him guilty of breaching several clauses in the Player Agreement during the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup held in Australia.

Karunaratne pleaded guilty to all charges levelled against him.

SLC handed a one-year ban from taking part in all forms of cricket, and the said ban will be suspended for a period of one year. Further to the said suspended sentence a fine of $ 5,000 was also imposed against Karunaratne. The Minister has also inquired as to why SLC officials were given every facility including $ 800 per day for their visit to Australia.

These points were raised when the Sports Minister met with members of his Ministerial Consultative Committee (MCC) in Parliament.

A proper committee to oversee the finances during the SLC conducted Lanka Premier League T20 and T10 tournaments was also called for.