Sri Lankan board sacked over debts from World Cup

Within hours of sacking the previous interim committee, Sri Lanka's government yesterday announced a new five-man cricket board led by chairman Upali Dharmadasa and also containing former Test opener Sidath Wettimuny.

The new committee can serve for a further six months, before elections must take place. "The government will have the official elections at the end of this year," Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Brian Thomas said.

The outgoing board, led by former national team player Somachandra de Silva, were sacked by the country's sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage amid reports of mis-management. SLC racked up large debts after co-hosting the World Cup alongside India and Bangladesh earlier this year.

SLC have been run by a succession of interim committees chosen by the country's sports ministry for seven years. However, that will have to change due to a new International Cricket Council ruling brought in at their annual conference in Hong Kong this week. The world game's governing body have given member boards two years to become democratised and free from government and political interference in a bid to improve governance. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "In the next 12 months, boards should be working towards free elections and we will assess the matter again at the 2012 annual conference."