Confusion and tug-o-war in hierarchies halt domestic competitions
A tug-of-war between the Ministry of Sports and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has left hundreds of domestic cricketers and many other stakeholders high and dry after SLC suspended all of its home-based tournaments citing instructions from the line ministry.
The decision has had direct and indirect impact on many livelihoods. This has resulted players losing their match fees and contracts fees while umpires and scorers will lose their match fees. A player earns around Rs. 45,000 for a three-day match and makes about Rs. 200,000 for a month and the current impasse has put cricketers and all other stakeholders involved in dire strait.
Issuing a statement yesterday, the Sports Ministry denied giving any orders to that effect but admitted that instructions were issued asking that the Sports Law and subsequent regulations to be respected.
The suspension comes subsequent to, Gesto Cricket Club, one of the clubs playing in the Governor’s Cup, going to courts seeking an injunction and then to the appeal advisory committee of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.
“SLC is trying to mislead the public by issuing a media release saying that the Minister of Sports directed them to suspend the tournaments,” a release from the Sports Ministry read, while explaining the circumstances that led to the Ministry’s communication to SLC.
After a nearly month’s break, the country’s premier first-class tournament, the Major Club, started last week. It was to continue over the weekend before SLC decided to hold it and all other tournaments.
This was after the Director General of the Department of Sports Development informed SLC on August 25, 2023, saying that the resolution which was passed at the last EGM on July 17 was not approved by the Sports Minister and therefore to take appropriate action.
Following advice from their lawyers, SLC decided that until the matter is sorted out, to suspend all domestic tournaments.
“The decision follows the ratification of an Appeal Advisory Committee decision by the Hon. Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs,” SLC said in its own statement on Friday.
“The Director General of Sports has issued a written instruction dated August 25, 2023, on Sri Lanka Cricket pursuant to this. Accordingly, Sri Lanka Cricket is compelled to suspend all SLC organised domestic cricket tournaments until clarification is obtained on the same.”
With the intention of improving the standard of the first-class tournament, SLC remodeled its club tournament in 2021 on the advice of the Technical Committee headed by Aravinda de Silva.
Accordingly, they were to reduce the number of clubs playing in the first-class tournament to 15 by 2025 from the initial 26 clubs, with eight teams being relegated to the lower level (four each in the first two years) and then three teams in the third year. SLC included the same in its constitution.
However, following representation from clubs relegated this season, SLC passed a resolution at a EGM this year to conduct an Invitational Tier ‘B’ Tournament which consists of clubs relegated from the Major League, four from the Governor’s Trophy and two outstation clubs, making it a 10-team three-day tournament without first-class status. Before passing it at the EGM, SLC sent it to the Ministry for approval and despite several reminders, the ministry has delayed the process.
In its statement, the Ministry says that SLC has no reason to postpone its tournaments under the prevailing constitution of SLC and that the Ministry is in the process of giving its approval to the constitutional amendments.