ICC lifts ban on Sri Lanka cricket, resumes international participation
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Sunday the immediate lifting of the suspension imposed on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The decision comes after the ICC Board closely monitored the situation and determined that SLC is no longer in violation of membership obligations.
In November 2023, the ICC had suspended SLC due to a political dispute in Sri Lanka.
This dispute arose when the Sports Minister introduced an interim committee led by Arjun Ranatunga, resulting in the suspension of the entire SLC board. The decision was influenced by Sri Lanka's poor performance in the Cricket World Cup, where they won only two out of nine matches and missed out on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 slot.
Despite the suspension, Sri Lanka was allowed to continue playing international cricket, both in bilateral series and ICC events. This exception was granted following a passionate appeal by SLC President Shammi Silva to ICC board members.
The ongoing U19 men's Cricket World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, was relocated to South Africa due to the suspension.
Since the suspension, Sri Lanka has hosted Zimbabwe for a white-ball series earlier this year, showcasing a return to international cricket following the lifting of the ban.
