​SLC expresses shock over withholding funds by ICC

20 April 2015 03:55 pm

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today said that they were shocked by the ‘purported decision’ of the  International Cricket Council (ICC) to withheld monies lawfully due to SLC by way of the financial distributions for the T20 World Cup 2014 and the World Cup 2015 citing ‘alleged’ political interference.

The ICC considering the implications of the appointment of an Interim Committee of SLC by the Government of Sri Lanka decided at its board meeting last week to call for proper explanation from the Sports Ministry while withholding payments due to SLC coffers.

“ SLC is also shocked by the purported decision said to have been suddenly taken to "withhold" monies which are now lawfully due and payable by ICC to SLC by way of the Financial Distributions for the T20 World Cup 2014 and the World Cup 2015. We would point out that these are monies which were due and payable by ICC to SLC from long prior to the appointment of the Interim Committee. Further, these are monies which are payable by ICC to SLC, irrespective of the body which is managing SLC for the time being,” SLC in its letter to ICC CEO David Richardson stated.

The committee was established because the posts held by former office bearers, led by President Jayantha Dharmadasa became null and void. The laws governing all sports bodies in the country require annual elections to be held on or before March 31. SLC's elections, however, were postponed until the end of April due to the World Cup, which ended on March 29.