(Image Source: AFP)
[Saba Sports News] Arjuna Ranatunga, who captained Sri Lanka to their 1996 World Cup victory, has leveled serious accusations against Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In an explosive interview, Ranatunga claimed that Shah’s influence is negatively impacting Sri Lankan cricket due to his close relationships with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials.
He suggested that these ties have led to SLC’s submissive stance towards the BCCI and that Shah is effectively in control of Sri Lankan cricket, attributing Shah’s power to his father, India’s Home Minister.
Ranatunga was quoted saying, “Jay Shah is running Sri Lanka Cricket. SLC is being ruined because of pressure from Jay Shah. One man in India is ruining Sri Lankan cricket. He is only powerful because of his father.”
This controversy comes as the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently suspended SLC due to political interference. Sri Lanka’s performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 was underwhelming, with only two wins out of nine games. Finishing ninth, they missed out on qualifying for the Champions Trophy 2025.
The future response of the ICC and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to these issues remains to be seen.