Changes are expected at Sri Lanka Cricket as president Shammi Silva is likely to resign. Government nominee Eran Wickramaratne is anticipated to take over temporarily as part of a major restructuring within the organization.
Silva, who has been president since 2019, may step down after an executive committee meeting set for Tuesday, April 28. Although some committee members want to finish their term, sources suggest that this opposition may not be strong enough, as Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is overseeing the transition.
According to the Sports Law of 1973, the Sports Minister can dissolve sports federations. However, such action could raise issues with International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations regarding elected boards.
Reports indicate that the ICC has been notified and has received commitments for new elections soon. A similar administrative change has occurred at the Bangladesh Cricket Board, although there is no current indication of ICC interference in either situation.
Local reports connect these changes to the national team’s recent difficulties, notably their early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. There have also been claims of corruption, but no formal charges have been filed.
“They successfully hosted the World Cup, increasing revenue. They are also preparing to host another ICC event in 2029. There should be clear allegations of corruption. I’m unsure how the ICC will respond to this change, but I expect them to demand new elections within six months,” stated a former SLC president as reported by Cricbuzz.
It is noteworthy that Silva was previously removed from his position after Sri Lanka’s poor performance at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which resulted in an ICC suspension of SLC and the relocation of the Under-19 World Cup. He returned to power after winning the March 2025 elections, but now his term seems poised to end with a year still to go.