Change to law suggested to end politics in cricket

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's sports law must be amended to end political interference in cricket administration to sustain and improve the game in the country, a report from a former top administrator said Tuesday.

The report by Haroon Logart, former chief executive of the International Cricket Council, was released Tuesday and suggests changing the law to comply with international standards.

The law currently bars any international team chosen by selectors being announced without the minister's approval.

Logart was hired by Sri Lanka Cricket to suggest improvements and he has identified nine issues affecting the game and given 24 recommendations to address them.

"Numerous comments infer that the minister appoints the entire selection panel," Logart said in the report he prepared after interviewing 42 people, including former national players, club representatives, administrators, SLC staff and media.

Successive Sri Lankan governments have been accused of interfering with cricket's administration.

SLC did not have an elected body for seven years and political appointees ran the administration until the authorities were compelled to hold an election earlier this year. The ICC last year made them mandatory for all national cricket boards.

However, a group favored by the government was elected uncontested after their rivals withdrew, calling the elections flawed.

ICC match referees and former players Ranjan Madugalle and Roshan Mahanama are among those interviewed.

The issues identified by the report include poor image of SLC, an outdated constitution, weak finances, lack of professional administration, poor media relations, poor domestic cricket structure, selection issues and lack of high performance facilities.

Among the recommendations are redrafting SLC's constitution, introducing code of ethics for all persons involved with the body, long term financial planning, empowerment of the CEO, a media protocol, restructuring domestic cricket and establishment of a terms of reference for the selection committee.