PMD, SLC denies ICC Chief discussed SLC elections or blacklisting

Colombo, June 23 (Daily Mirror) - The President’s Media Division (PMD) yesterday denied the Daily Mirror article titled “Hold SLC Elections or Get Blacklisted, ICC Informs President AKD,” saying that ICC Chairman Jay Shah neither discussed the holding of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections nor raised the possibility of blacklisting the national cricket body over political interference.

In a statement, the PMD said the Government of Sri Lanka strongly condemned the front-page report, describing it as ‘false and misleading.’

“The report has no factual basis and deliberately misrepresents the meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and ICC Chairman Jay Shah at the Presidential Secretariat. The President and the ICC Chairman publicly confirmed on X that the discussion covered cricket development, grassroots and youth programmes, and expanding opportunities for young players, not ultimatums, blacklisting threats, or election demands," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) also denied the article, maintaining that there was no discussion regarding SLC elections or any threat of blacklisting.

Responding to the article, former Sri Lanka captain and Cricket Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny denied claims that SLC risks being blacklisted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over delays in holding elections.

He said there was “absolutely no discussion” about such a possibility during talks with ICC Chairman Jay Shah.

Wettimuny said that SLC’s new constitution is nearing completion, with the SLC Transformation Committee expected to present the draft to Parliament by the end of this month.

According to SLC, the new draft constitution is almost complete, with the Transformation Committee currently finalising the necessary legal refinements before submitting it to both the ICC and Parliament for approval.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia met with the SLC leadership during a brief visit to Colombo last week.

SLC described the discussions as cordial and constructive, focusing on the current state of cricket administration in Sri Lanka and the progress made by the committee overseeing the governance transition.

During the meeting, SLC said it provided the ICC and BCCI officials with an update on measures taken to strengthen governance structures and advance administrative reforms aimed at ensuring long-term stability.

“During the meeting with Jay Shah, we explained the process we are following and informed him that we are moving very fast. He was very happy with that. There was absolutely no discussion about blacklisting,” Wettimuny said.