Sri Lanka says ICC withholding money over dispute is illegal
Sri Lanka's cricket authority said it is shocked by ICC's decision to withhold financial grant.
COLOMBO (AP) - Sri Lanka s cricket authority said Tuesday it is shocked by the governing body ICC s decision to withhold a financial grant because of a dispute over the government s appointment of an interim committee to run the sport in the country instead of holding an election.
Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva said in a letter to International Cricket Council s Chief Executive David Richardson that withholding the funds will cause grave damage to cricket in Sri Lanka. He said the funds were due from last year s World T20 championship and this year s World Cup and withholding them was illegal and a breach of agreements between the two bodies.
Sri Lanka s government appointed the committee in March headed by former test opener Sidath Wettimuny. Sri Lanka s newly elected government said it wants to investigate corruption allegations against the previous cricket administration.
But the ICC said not holding an election appeared to be a breach of its constitution and that appointing an interim committee was government interference. The council also said it plans to write to Sri Lanka s sports minister seeking an explanation.
However, the sports ministry has said it has still not received any such request from the ICC, according to the SLC letter.
