ICC Revokes Ban Imposed On Sri Lanka Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted the ban on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect on Sunday. The ICC Board confirmed that SLC is no longer in breach of membership obligations after closely monitoring the situation since the suspension.

"The International Cricket Council lifted the ban on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today with immediate effect. The ICC Board has been monitoring the situation since the suspension and are now satisfied that SLC are no longer in breach of membership obligations," ICC said in a statement.

The international cricket governing body had imposed a ban on the Sri Lankan cricket board in November 2023, following political uproars in Sri Lanka. Earlier, when the Sri Lankan cricket team performed below the expectations in the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka, Roshan Ranasinghe, expelled the entire Sri Lankan Cricket Board. Despite being a top seed in the Asian continent, the Island Nation had won only two matches out of nine. Team Sri Lanka also failed to secure its berth for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The ban has been lifted after a "fervent appeal" from President Shammi Silva to the members of the International Cricket Council to "carve out an exception" to allow Sri Lanka to play international cricket despite being barred. "However, pursuant to SLC President Shammi Silvas's fervent appen to the Members, the ICC Board has carved out an exception permitting Sri Lankans to compete internationally in bilateral and ICC events, despite the suspension," reads a statement by ICC.