- Sri Lanka miss 2025 Champions Trophy qualification after Australia’s win against Bangladesh in ICC World Cup 2023.
- Dismal World Cup campaign with only two wins in nine matches and off-field challenges.
- Suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket’s ICC membership due to serious breaches, adding to the team’s woes.
Sri Lanka’s hopes for qualifying in the 2025 Champions Trophy were dashed after Bangladesh’s defeat against Australia in the 43rd match of the ICC World Cup 2023. The Kusal Mendis-led squad had a dismal World Cup, securing only two victories out of nine matches and grappling with numerous off-field challenges.
Their campaign concluded with a significant loss against New Zealand in Bengaluru, leaving them in the ninth position on the World Cup points table with four points and a negative net run rate (NRR) of -1.419. To keep their Champions Trophy dreams alive, Sri Lanka was relying on Australia to secure a substantial victory against Bangladesh.
Despite Mitchell Marsh’s impressive innings of 177, propelling Australia to an eight-wicket win, they chased down the 307-run target in 44.4 overs, falling short of denting Bangladesh’s NRR. The Islanders’ aspirations for Champions Trophy qualification were thus shattered.
Sri Lanka faced a plethora of challenges throughout the World Cup, compounded by the absence of key players and the sidelining of skipper Dasun Shanaka, with Kusal Mendis stepping in as the interim captain. Adding to their woes, on November 10, the ICC Board suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership, citing serious breaches of its obligations.
The ICC noted that Sri Lanka Cricket failed to manage its affairs autonomously, violating the requirement to prevent government interference in cricket governance. The specific conditions of the suspension will be determined by the ICC Board in the coming days. As Sri Lanka grapples with both on and off-field setbacks, the road to cricketing redemption appears uncertain, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts pondering the future of the island nation in the international cricket arena.
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Sri Lanka Cricket sacked after poor World Cup campaign
