Interim members to resign over Sumathipala nomination

Sri Lanka's cricket administration was plunged into a fresh crisis on the weekend as four members of the recently appointed interim committee running the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) revealed that they would handing over letters of resignation to the Sports Minister on Monday morning.

Chairman of selectors Michael Tissera, secretary Kushil Gunasekera, treasurer Tryphon Mirando and Sidath Wettimuny have been incensed by the Sports Minister's surprise decision last week to send former board president Thilanga Sumathipala to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Meeting at London in June.

Johnston Fernando, who appointed the present ten member interim committee last month for a 12-month period, had first recommended that Sumathipala lead the delegation to London, but later compromised, declaring that Hemaka Amarasuriya, the present interim chairman, would head the team with Sumathipala as back-up.

But Sumathipala's inclusion in the team was still fiercely resisted by the four members. They maintain that Sri Lanka should be represented by members of the board, as per traditional protocol, and not by persons without any official role within the administration.

Fernando is believed to have recommended Sumathipala's nomination in the first place on the basis that his considerable experience as a cricket administrator (he has been BCCSL President twice in the last three years) gives him extra clout at an important ICC meeting.

The Sports Minister now faces an embarrassing situation. If he accepts the members' resignation then the interim committee loses key administrators at a crucial time for Sri Lanka with four months remaining to the ICC Champions Trophy, a showcase tournament for the country. Should he back down again, he could lose face.

The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickramasinghe, who has been keeping close eye on the cricket board, had an emergency meeting with Amarasuriya, the board chairman, on Friday, presumably to help defuse the current crisis.

Sumathipala, currently in Malaysia on business, has told the Sunday Times that he would be delighted to represent Sri Lanka at the meeting should the minister request that he does so.

Tissera, who was due to depart for London on Saturday to assist with Sri Lanka's selection for the first Test at Lords starting Thursday, has delayed his trip.