Arjuna Ranatunga launches legal fight to contest BCCSL Presidency

Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka's bellicose former captain and current Member of Parliament, has commenced a legal battle against a proposed law that would prevent him from holding office in the Sri Lankan cricket board.

Ranatunga's lawyers submitted a petition to the Supreme Court in Colombo on Monday claiming that a proposed change to the sports law, which debars politicians from holding office in sports bodies, was a "violation of his human rights."

The court granted leave to proceed with his action and a hearing will now be heard on 13 May, potentially delaying the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka's Annual General Meeting until June.

Sports Minister Johnston Fernando had earlier indicated that a cricket board election would be held before 31 March, but with no consensual candidate yet emerging for the Presidency, and Ranatunga's legal battle having commenced, this is no longer possible.

Ranatunga, who is the first candidate to openly declare his desire to contest the cricket board elections, was typically outspoken after the filing of the petition, claiming that the proposed amendment to the sports law was a ruse designed to keep him out of the cricket board.

"When I heard about the policy, I felt that someone was trying to drag me out of sports, an area in which I have wanted to help," he said, adding, "Indeed, that's why I got into politics in the first place."

Ranatunga, famed for his arrogant air on the field, has lost none of his self-belief, arguing that his leadership of the administration is now an urgent priority to prevent a fresh wave of corruption.

"I want to stand for the Presidency and believe that I should do so as soon as possible, so that that we can avoid the corruption associated with businessmen running cricket," he added.

He believes that politicians are far better placed to run affairs of the administration, comparing the good track record of the late Minister Gamini Dissanayake in 1980s to the businessmen who have held office during the recent turbulent past.

"When politicians were in charge of the cricket board they ran it well," he claimed. "Only during recent times, when businessman have been in charge, have we been forced to have these interim committees."

Ranatunga claims to have a strong backing of past cricketers and to have been encouraged to stand by current members of the national team. He is also rumoured to being backed by former board President Upali Dharmadasa.

But to win a cricket board election, Ranatunga would need the support of the clubs. Winning over their support will not be easy.

The government are believed to favour Hemaka Amarasuriya - the respected chairman of Singer Sri Lanka, who is being actively wooed for the post - but have so far failed to garner the necessary support from all parties. The high profile entry of Ranatunga makes the chances of brokering a consensus even more remote.

However, before Ranatunga can lock horns with his opponents, he must prevent the proposed amendments in the sports law being passed in Parliament.

To do so, he is expected to site the numerous examples of cricket administrators who have simultaneously held political office, both at home and overseas, including current West Indies Cricket Board President Wes Hall and English Cricket Board supreme Lord MacLaurin, who is a member of the House of Lords.