Sri Lanka interim board resigns ahead of polls

COLOMBO, JUNE 2. Sri Lankan cricket plunged into a fresh crisis on Friday as the interim committee managing the board resigned after new frictions with the sports authorities, days before elections are to be held for new officials.

``We are concerned that the authorities appear to be taking Sri Lanka cricket down the path of destruction. After giving of our best over the last year, we could not stay and watch,'' Rienzi Wijetilleke, chairman of the interim committee, told Reuters.

He declined to elaborate, but the interim committee which has presided over Sri Lanka's latest cricket resurgence, has clashed with Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake on several occasions since it was formed last year.

Pakistan is due to play a three-Test series in Sri Lanka from later this month and then stay over for a triangular one-day series involving South Africa in July.

The resignation of the committee has raised questions over selection of the teams for the series against Pakistan. Sri Lankan cricket entered crisis last year when the executive committee headed by then president Thilanga Sumathipala was suspended in a court dispute over the election of office-bearers. That row is yet to be resolved.

Elections for new officials are to be held on June 11 after they were postponed earlier this year by Dissanayake following allegations of financial irregularities during Sumathipala's term in office. Sumathipala has also filed his nomination for election.

Wijetilleke also resigned in February after Dissanayake accused him of organising a dinner to boost the prospects of a candidate seeking election to the board.

The committee said it organised the dinner to thank officials of the under-19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka earlier.

Sri Lanka's on-field form dipped last year when, as defending champion, it was eliminated at the first stage of the World Cup tournament in England.

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Section  : Sport
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