Sri Lanka collapsed to 55 all out against India (AP Photo)
With Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) facing extensive flak for the Island nation's horrendous showing at the ICC World Cup 2023 in India, the board's secretary Mohan de Silva called it quits on his tenure on Saturday (November 4), two days after the disastrous '55 all out' against the tournament hosts in Mumbai.
De Silva's resignation comes on the back of widespread criticism faced by the SLC and the entire Sri Lankan cricket community after the men's team surrendered to an embarrassing 303-run loss at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday against the mighty Indian juggernaut.
ESPNcricinfo reported that the board secretary's decision also follows a release from Sri Lanka's sports minister, who had asked SLC's executive committee to resign entirely or face the repercussions of a freefall decline at the world event in India.
SLC Secretary Resigns Amidst World Cup Horrors
Struggling with injuries and inexperience, stand-in captain Kusal Mendis and company had ignited hopes of somehow floating along at the tournament with a surprise victory over England. However, battering at the hands of Afghanistan and India vanished their slim chances of making the knock-outs.
Sri Lanka, placed seventh in the ten-team standings after seven matches and just two victories, including one over inexperienced Netherlands, are also under a serious threat of failing to secure a Champions Trophy 2025 slot.
Only hosts Pakistan plus the top 7 best finishing sides at this World Cup will make the cut for the next 50-over ICC event, leaving Sri Lanka in a massive spot of bother and requiring a win apiece in their coming matches against Bangladesh (November 6) in Delhi and New Zealand (November 9) in Bangalore to stand a chance.
The unarrested decline of the game in Sri Lanka has meant that the Lankan Lions haven't reached the knock-out stage of any tournament since winning the 2014 edition of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
A formidable limited-overs force once, Sri Lanka was required to scrap through a cut-throat ICC global qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe this year to make the trip to India. One more loss with the Champions Trophy context in mind could put them out of a major ICC event for the first time in men's cricket history.
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