Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, took decisive action in response to the national cricket team's lackluster World Cup performance, notably their recent loss to India. In a statement, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe strongly criticised Sri Lanka Cricket, alleging disloyalty and corruption within the organization. He called for the immediate resignation of board members. Following this call, Mohan de Silva, the secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, who held the second-highest position in the organization, resigned on Saturday, amidst fan protests outside the board's headquarters.
To steer Sri Lanka Cricket in a new direction, Arjuna Ranatunga, the legendary cricketer who led the Sri Lankan cricket team to their solitary World Cup title in 1996, was appointed as the interim chairman of the board, as per Ranasinghe's directive. The newly formed seven-member committee includes a retired supreme court judge and a former board president.
As things stand, Sri Lanka occupies the seventh position in the World Cup standings, with four points earned from seven matches, comprising two victories and five defeats. Securing the coveted fourth position for advancement would necessitate not only winning their remaining two matches but also relying on favorable outcomes in other games. However, this scenario appears quite unlikely at this juncture.
In their recent clash against India at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Sri Lanka's struggles were evident. After India posted an imposing total of 357 for 8 in the first innings, the Sri Lankan team faced a formidable target.
India's batsmen showcased an impressive performance in the initial innings. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer played pivotal roles in accumulating the substantial total. Gill contributed 92 runs from 92 deliveries, embellishing his innings with 11 boundaries and two sixes. Kohli's contribution stood at 88 runs from 94 balls, featuring 11 boundaries, while Iyer's explosive batting display earned him 82 runs from just 56 balls, inclusive of three boundaries and six maximums.
In the second innings, Mohammed Shami emerged as the star performer among the Indian bowlers, securing his third five-wicket haul in ODI World Cups. The Sri Lankan team struggled during their pursuit of India's challenging target of 358 runs. Mohammed Siraj also made a significant impact, claiming three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja each contributed with one wicket. This collective effort from the Indian bowlers resulted in Sri Lanka being bowled out for a mere 55 runs in just 19.4 overs.
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