BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Concerns have emerged within Sri Lanka’s sporting and political circles following recent changes to the national selection committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, with former Sports Ministers raising serious objections over the legality and intent of the restructuring process.
Former Sports Minister Harin Fernando has publicly criticised the latest appointments made under the newly formed Cricket Transformation Committee, arguing that the move represents a premature and potentially unlawful intervention in cricket governance rather than a meaningful administrative reform.
Fernando claimed that the initial actions of the Transformation Committee appeared to prioritise changes to the selection panel over broader structural improvements within Sri Lanka Cricket. He further alleged that the standard nomination procedures were not followed, stating that no formal call for nominations had been issued prior to the appointments.
According to him, the anticipated transformation of Sri Lankan cricket should have centred on long-term governance reform, institutional stability, and transparency, rather than direct involvement in the selection process — a domain he believes requires procedural independence to maintain credibility.
Raising further concerns, Fernando questioned whether the newly appointed selectors were chosen based on merit or influenced by personal affiliations with members of the Transformation Committee. He contrasted Sri Lanka’s approach with international trends, noting that “even India has appointed young former cricketers to selection committees,” suggesting that Sri Lanka risks falling behind modern cricketing standards.
He also emphasised that contemporary selection panels must be equipped to understand the evolving dynamics of the sport, including the demands of domestic first-class cricket, player development pathways, performance analytics, social media pressure, and the increasingly commercial nature of international cricket.
Fernando further referenced his tenure as Sports Minister, during which former national captain Upul Tharanga was appointed chairman of the selection committee, a move he said was intended to introduce younger cricketing perspectives into the decision-making framework.
“Instead of a real transformation, this looks like it is becoming a political exercise,” Fernando stated, warning that continued interference could undermine both performance and governance standards in Sri Lankan cricket.
Echoing similar sentiments, former Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara also criticised the restructuring, alleging that Sri Lanka Cricket is now effectively operating with “two selection committees.” He further accused the current administration of politicising cricket operations, cautioning that such developments could destabilise the sport at a national level.
The controversy adds to ongoing debates surrounding governance, transparency, and administrative independence within Sri Lanka’s cricketing framework, as stakeholders continue to call for reforms that balance accountability with sporting autonomy in Sri Lanka.
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