Jai Shah, Arjun Ranatunga
– Photo: Social Media
Expansion
The Sri Lankan government has apologized for the ridiculous remarks made by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga on BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. Jay Shah is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Ranatunga had recently given a strange statement and held Jay Shah responsible for the decline of Sri Lankan cricket. After this, the captain who won the World Cup in 1996 was heavily criticized.
Ranatunga had said, “Because of the relationship between Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials and Jay Shah, the BCCI is under the impression that they can crush and control SLC. Jay Shah is running Sri Lanka Cricket. Jay Shah’s SLC is getting ruined due to pressure. One man is ruining Sri Lankan cricket in India. He is powerful only because of his father, who is the Home Minister of India.”
Ministers apologized in Sri Lankan Parliament
During the parliamentary session on Friday, two Sri Lankan government ministers, Harin Fernando and Kanchana Wijesekera, expressed regret over Ranatunga’s statement. He clarified that the responsibility is external Sri Lankan administrators rather than institutions. Minister Wijesekera said, “As a government we express our regret to Asian Cricket Council chief Jay Shah. We cannot hold hands at the Asian Cricket Council chief or other countries for the shortcomings of their institutions. This is a wrong It is an assumption.”
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said President Ranil Wickremesinghe has spoken with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah to lift the ban imposed on Sri Lanka cricket by the ICC. Minister Harin Fernando cautioned that the ICC ban could have adverse consequences for the country, especially as it would impact the upcoming Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be held in January next year. He said, “If the ICC ban is not lifted then no one will visit Sri Lanka for the tournament. Sri Lanka will not get a single penny from the cricket tournament.”