Shammi Silva Steps Down as Sri Lanka Cricket Faces Governance Crisis

Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva has resigned, along with other board and Executive Committee members on Wednesday. This comes after the T20 World Cup 2026 co-hosts exited the tournament in the group stage and amid allegations of corruption and political influence levelled against the administration.

As per news agency, AFP, Sri Lanka’s membership was suspended by the ICC in 2023 due to alleged political interference and was subsequently restored in January 2024.

An AFP report stated that president Anura Kumara Dissanayake had met with Silva during the weekend to discuss the future of the board under a new management.

“The President of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mr. Shammi Silva, has tendered his resignation from the
post, effective today. Along with him, the office bearers and members of the Executive Committee of the SLC have also submitted their resignations.
This decision has been formally communicated to His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Honorable Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Sunil Kumara Gamage,” SLC said in a statement.

As per an AFP report, a new interim committee will take charge, led by an investment banker who is also an opposition politician. Shammi Silva had called a special meeting to announce his resignation, even though he still had 11 months left in his four-year term.The report claims that the president had urged the existing body to step down and instead, make way for a new administration to take control of the affairs.

“The committee resigned to make way for an interim management team headed by a former investment banker, who is also an opposition politician,” the official told AFP, asking not to be named.