The Ministerial Committee, appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to analyze the root causes of Sri Lanka Cricket’s downfall, presented a report with 39 key recommendations.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ali Sabri, PC, included other members such as Minister of Power and Energy Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera, Minister of Public Security Mr. Tiran Alles, and Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Mr. Manusha Nanayakkara. They prepared the report after consulting with all stakeholders in Sri Lanka Cricket, in line with the cabinet decision made on November 6th.
Reform of the constitutional framework, organizational structure and administration
of Sri Lanka Cricket
1. The SLC administration consists of three primary arms: a. Regulatory b. Cricket administration, and c. Technical matters responsible for cricket and player management.
We believe that each of those groups should be distinctly delineated and should not encroach upon one another. They should have enough autonomy to act appropriately. Although the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affaits is in charge of overseeing sports in general, the responsibility for managing and running cricket activities lies with SLC.
The administration of SLC should delegate technical responsibilities, such as coaching and player management, to qualified technocrats who are recruited under a process outlined in the report.
2. The existing framework of SLC has been specifically designed to cater to a select group of persons, enabling them to maintain their control over all aspects of cricket.
Consequently, this structure has deterred individuals possessing expertise, ability, experience, and a strong desire to participate in cricket administration.
3. Thus, it is imperative to overhaul the entire cricket framework by implementing essential administrative reforms and constitutional amendments. The current situation grants the existing set of stakeholders unrestricted authority to carry out their goals and virtually unlimited control over finances. Therefore, we cannot expect their complete cooperation in implementing any significant reforms that would guarantee a transparent, independent, and equitable management of cricket based on merit and talent as it will be detrimental to those who are benefitting from the status quo.
4. Therefore, most appropriate method for implementing these reforms is by legislative
action, specifically by enacting a law that introduces a new constitution to SLC, as outlined in the report.
5. The Chitrasiri Committee, which we referred to above, has, in our opinion, come out with an impressive piece of draft legislation that may serve as the foundation for the proposed law that was forwarded to us by the Secretary to the President on the direction of H.E. the President.
We concur with the framework proposed in that draft, which states:
(i) Members of the Executive Committee shall carry out their work on an honorary capacity subject to reasonable compensation for attendance, travel and other incidental expenses.
(ii) The Board shall be responsible for policy decision whereas executive decision-making shall be carried out by a qualified technocrat appointed as the Chief Executive Officer.
(iii) The Board shall act similar to a corporate entity with independent committees tasked with auditing, procurement, remuneration and other pertinent matters, and reporting to the board.
6. We suggest the appointment of a full-time professional Director-Cricket to supervise all cricket-related affairs, such as maintaining the provincial structure, managing coaching staff and players, coordinating the selection committee, and implementing the cricket plan devised by the Technical Advisory Committee, which is appointed by the Minister of Sports in consultation with the Cricket Committee of SLC.
The proposed plan should be presented to the Executive Committee of SLC for their concurrence. The Executive Committee shall not withhold its concurrence in the absence of good and sufficient reasons.
7. The Director-Cricket will implement the cricket plan based on the direction provided
by the Technical Advisory Committee and the Cricket Committee of SLC. A regular performance evaluation should be conducted to determine whether the milestones and objectives are being achieved. If they are not, appropriate adjustments should be made.
8. We recommend that members of the Chitrasisiri Committee be engaged as consultants to draft a preliminary constitution for SLC, using Annex 2 as a foundation. Before
finalizing the aforementioned draft, we recommend them to obtain further input from
stakeholders, particularly respected former international players.
9. We recommend the Hon. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs communicate with the ICC about the principled objective of this exercise, which is to establish a transparent and merit-based administration at SLC. This will not only benefit cricket in Sri Lanka but also have a positive impact on world cricket. By doing so, it may be possible to obtain ICC’s full support and agreement to implement these reforms.
10. We suggest the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs make all endeavours to persuade SLC to collaborate with these fundamental reforms, which are necessary to improve the reputation and acceptance of SLC among all stakeholders and the general public.
11. It is preferable for the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to obtain the cooperation of the ICC for these improvements. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that Sri Lanka plays cricket not due to the existence of the ICC, but rather the ICC exists because nations such as Sri Lanka play cricket with passion and commitment.
Therefore, it is imperative for the ICC to prioritize the welfare of cricket in Sri Lanka
over the interests of a select few persons who have influence over SLC
12. The data unequivocally indicates that Sri Lanka cricket has faced significant challenges since 1996 in establishing a just and equitable framework that is widely accepted by the public for governing SLC without bias or favouritism. The appointment of 9 interim committees since 1996 highlights the necessity for a lasting resolution to this repetitive issue, which has caused both distress and a disrespect to both cricket and the nation.
13. The Ministry of Sports should implement the constitutional reforms mentioned,regardless of whether they receive support or assistance from the ICC. This will resolve the issue definitively, similar to how it was done in India through the Supreme Court and in South Africa through the intervention of the Minister of Sports.
14. After the laws are enacted and the administration is formed according to the current laws of the country, there is no justification for the ICC to refuse to recognize such administration to govern SLC. Notably, in Pakistan, the Prime Minister of the Country has influence over the appointment of the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),and the ICC has accepted the said provisions in the law.
15. Upon the law being promulgated, an interim committee may be appointed for a limited duration with specific objectives. This committee should have the specific responsibility of implementing the necessary reforms and making arrangements for conducting the elections in accordance with the new law.
16. The interim committee should consist of 5 members, ideally led by a corporate executive with extensive experience in managing a large corporation, along with two individuals who are duly qualified in accounting and law. Additionally, two cricketers who have played at the highest level, preferably representing Sri Lanka internationally, should also be part of the committee. We also recommend that anyone with a conflict of interest not serve on the interim committee.
Best practices to ensure greater accountability, transparency, and good governance within the operations of SLC
17. Cricket administration should be left to competent technocrats who can formulate and carry out a detailed plan. The formulation of such plans should be undertaken by a Technical Advisory committee in collaboration with the Cricket Committee of SLC and all relevant parties as detailed above. The execution of the plan should be overseen by the Director-Cricket of SLC.
18. These plans should outline the structure of the provincial, club, and age-level cricket tournaments, as well as player management aspects such as fitness standards, player contracts, ethics, and performance guidelines. They should be frequently reviewed to ensure proper execution.
19. Following stakeholder consultation and agreement, these plans should not be disrupted and must be carried out with unwavering efficiency, without being swayed by the many influences of parties with hidden motives and personal interests, including the influence exerted by traditional media and social media.
20. There is an apparent lack of unity of purpose among the players, coaches, selectors, and administrators, with a tendency to blame each other instead of collectively assuming responsibility for both successes and failures. There is a noticeable absence of communication among these different groups of stakeholders.
Therefore, a dedicated framework to facilitate regular consultations, discussions, reviews, and understanding of the plans among the various stakeholders should be implemented. This will help resolve any differences and allow them to move forward as a unified entity.
21. In order to ensure good governance and transparency, we propose implementing the recommended practices by BASL, CIMA, KPMG, and Chartered Institute of Sri Lanka into the administration of SLC. This includes establishing independent committees to oversee performance and creating guidelines for budget allocation and procurement that align with international best practices. Therefore, we recommend the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs extend invitations to these institutions to develop guidelines that can be used by SLC in its management.
22. We recommend that the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs takes steps to amend the Sports Law and regulations in accordance with the proposed changes. To accomplish this, we recommend inviting Mr. Jagath Fernando as a consultant, who has already made significant voluntary contributions towards this effort. In our view, his ideas,which focus on forward-looking aspects such as the qualifications for holding offices,term limits, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and monitoring by the Auditor General,should be incorporated into the legislation to guarantee good governance in administration.
23. The Auditor General has uncovered unsettling revelations regarding the operations of Sri Lanka Cricket. As referred to above, he has submitted Audit Reports dated 21st May 2018, 23rd October 2019 and 11th September 2023 (Annexures 5,6 and 7). It is regrettable that no additional measures were implemented in response to the report prepared by his department, as indicated by his evidence. We suggest that the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, in accordance with the Sports Law, create a committee consisting of three members to study the findings of the Auditor General’s report on the conduct of SLC. The committee should then take appropriate action based on these findings.
24. We further recommend the said audit findings be presented to the Hon. Attorney General for the purpose of further investigations and appropriate actions.
Effective player management
25. As detailed above, all cricketing decisions should be made based on the plan drawn up by the Technical Advisory Committee in collaboration with Cricket Committee of SLC.
Implementation should be through the Director-Cricket of SLC.
26. Cricket development should prioritize comprehensive player management, encompassing skill development, physical fitness, psychological advancement, grooming, dietary and nutritional requirements, and overall personal growth of the player.
Individualized plans should be created for each contractual player and closely monitored to ensure proper performance.
27. We recommend that all recruitment, including coaches, support staff, medical staff, physiotherapists and curators, be based on merit and follow a competitive selection procedure.
28. A General Code of Conduct and Ethics for Players, as well as a Social Media Code of Conduct, should be developed to discourage personal social media use which has detrimental effect on tournaments and matches.
29. We suggest that nutritional guidelines should be followed, and a mentoring structure should be put in place. To monitor and supervise the plan, regular meetings should be held.
30. We suggest the implementation of a comprehensive plan to support U-19 cricket players and ensure their continued involvement in the cricket system for a substantial duration.
Specifically, we request SLC to consider the feasibility of providing contracts to these players after they complete their school cricket/U-19 cricket, in order to sustain their cricketing careers.
Infrastructure and feeding system
31. The Technical Advisory Committee in collaboration with the Cricket Committee of SLC should develop a strategy for cricket development across all formats and age groups, collaborating with stakeholders such as the Director-Cricket, coaching staff,selectors, and administration.
32. A significant share of the SLC annual budget should be allocated to cricket development, focusing on optimizing player performance through high performance centers, training facilities, and competitive turf pitches.
33. School cricket should be preserved and revitalized at various divisional levels. SLC must work with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and with the school cricket advisors appointed by H.E. the President to draw up and implement an effective plan to achieve such objectives.
34. We are of the opinion that the current tournament structure for club cricket should be reformed, and the two-tier divisional structure be re-introduced with promotion and relegation prospects for clubs based on performance.
35. We suggest the provincial cricket framework should be revamped and strengthened, with the best players from domestic, U-19, Emerging, and A-teams selected for provincial tournaments.
We further suggest exploring the possibility of conducting the provincial tournament with 4 or 5 teams, based in international venues with the possibility if drawing sponsorship from well-known Sri Lankan or foreign businesses to sustain such teams and thereby the tournament itself.
36. The current provincial squads and district squads should be reviewed for performance, with a system for employing scouts to discover talent and draft them into provincial or national squads. A contact structure for players from school cricket to national cricket should be implemented.
37. Squads for diverse age groups and genders should be maintained, and domestic and international fixtures should be planned ahead of time to ensure players are available,rested, and in good shape for all tournaments.
38. We also support the players’ suggestion to reestablish specialized clinics for fast bowling, spin bowling, and other specific skills in order to establish a structured system for nurturing talent for the national team.
39. We recommend that the proposed Technical Advisory Committee to be appointed bythe Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, or any other relevant authority overseeing the provincial, district, or club tournament structure, carefully consider the detailed plans previously prepared by the former Technical Advisory Committee and shared with us by Mr. Aravinda De Silva, to effectively revamp the system.