Government Rejects Report Claiming ICC Pressured Sri Lanka Over Cricket Elections

The Government has denied a media report claiming that the International Cricket Council (ICC) warned Sri Lanka to hold Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections before July 31 or face possible blacklisting.

In a statement issued today, the President’s Media Division (PMD) described the report as “false and misleading,” asserting that it lacked any factual basis and misrepresented the recent meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and ICC Chairman Jay Shah at the Presidential Secretariat.

According to the PMD, discussions between the President and the ICC Chairman focused on cricket development, grassroots and youth programmes, and expanding opportunities for young players. The Government emphasized that no ultimatum regarding SLC elections, blacklisting, or any similar demand was raised during the meeting.

The PMD further noted that both President Dissanayake and Jay Shah had publicly commented on the meeting through social media, and neither had mentioned election deadlines or threats of sanctions.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Sri Lankan officials informed the ICC Chairman of their intention to complete constitutional reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket before conducting elections. Officials believe that a newly elected administration should inherit a governance framework capable of addressing long-standing structural and administrative shortcomings within the organization.

Sources described the meeting as cordial and constructive, adding that the ICC was provided with a comprehensive update on progress made since the Transformation Committee assumed responsibility for cricket administration following the departure of the previous elected executive.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Sri Lanka Cricket said it had shared indicative timelines for completing the reform process and restoring governance through a duly elected administration in accordance with the applicable legal and constitutional framework.

The Government has called on the newspaper concerned to retract and correct the report.

The ICC has not yet issued an official comment on the matter.