ODI World Cup 2023

Arjuna Ranatunga’s comments on Jay Shah draw Sri Lankan Government’s regret

Earlier, Ranatunga had alleged that Jay Shah is responsible for Sri Lanka's downfall in cricket.

Nov 17, 2023 6:49 pm

Following Sri Lanka’s terrible run in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Arjuna Ranatunga, the legendary Sri Lankan cricket captain, made a bold statement by accusing Jay Shah, the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board, of “ruining Sri Lanka cricket.” Ranatunga alleged that Shah’s influence over Sri Lanka Cricket has been detrimental to the sport in the country. He claims that SLC officials have been too accommodating to Shah’s demands, leading to a decline in the quality of Sri Lankan cricket.

“Because of the connection between SLC officials and Jay Shah, they are under the impression that they can trample and control SLC. Jay Shah is running the Sri Lanka Cricket. SLC is being ruined because of pressure from Jay Shah. One man in India is ruining Sri Lankan cricket,” Ranatunga was quoted as saying by the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror.

Ranatunga also pointed to Shah’s father, Amit Shah, who is India’s Home Minister, as a source of undue influence. “He is only powerful because of his father, who is India’s home Minister,” he added.

The Sri Lanka Government expresses regret

Arjuna Ranatunga’s criticism of Jay Shah is not new. He previously slammed the authorities for their decision to have a reserve day exclusively for India vs. Pakistan match in the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup 2023. The cricket legend questioned the rationale behind altering the tournament’s established rules just before a single game.

In a move to mend fences, the Sri Lankan government has officially conveyed its regret to Jay Shah for the disparaging remarks made by Ranatunga. Addressing Parliament, Sri Lankan Ministers Harin Fernando and Kanchana Wijesekera acknowledged the issue while firmly placing the responsibility for Sri Lanka Cricket’s shortcomings on the shoulders of the country’s cricketing administrators. They emphasized that seeking external scapegoats would not address the deep-rooted issues plaguing Sri Lankan cricket and that internal accountability and improvement were essential to revive the sport’s fortunes.