CCC suspension stands

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

10 January 1997


Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake has allowed the decision taken by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board to suspend Colombo Cricket Club (CCC), to stand.

The secretary to the Minister in his reply to the appeals made by CCC on December 30 and January 3 states : ``I wish to inform you that there are no reasons for the Honourable Minister to direct the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka to change the decision taken by them on this matter''.

The CCC turned to the Sports Minister for redress after the Cricket Board ExCo turned down their appeal.

On the recommendation of the tournament committee, the ExCo decided to suspend CCC, the current Sara trophy champions from participating in the current tournament.

CCC were found guilty of violating the Cricket Board's Clause 11.3 concerning 'The Pitch' under Part 'B' of its rules and conditions.

The CCC failed to prepare a pitch for their Sara trophy match against SSC scheduled for November 28 at Maitland Crescent.

The Cricket Board on suspending the club made provisions for its cricketers to play for another club during the current season prior to obtaining permission from the tournament committee.

The widespread view in cricket circles was that the punishment did not fit the crime. The question that was thrown about was why suspend the cricketers for the negligence of certain officials of the club. However, the rules and conditions of the Cricket Board framed and passed by its ExCo was such that there seemed to be no other alternative.

The tournament committee comprises: Carlton Bernadus (chairman), Roshan Abeysinghe (secretary), M. Sivaratnam, Jayantha Kudahetty and Jeevaka Fernando.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 14:45