New Delhi: In a shocking turn of events, Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene resigned from the National Sports Council as a mark of protest against the Sri Lankan government.
The country is grappling with an economic crisis, and the government is criticized for handling the situation. The former cricket team captains criticized the country’s response to widespread protests amidst the worst economic crisis.
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) will become defunct after the resignation of Sangakkara and Jayawardene since all 14 Council members handed their resignation after Jayawardene and Sangakkara. Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa established the committee in August 2020.
Mahela Jayawardene was heading the National Sports Council. Sports Director Amal Edirisooriya confirmed that Jayawardene handed his resignation after a virtual meeting on April 04, 2022.
The government has blocked social media sites, detained thousands of Protestants, imposed a curfew, and declared a state of emergency.
“No amount of social media bans, curfews, or declaring emergencies will solve the real emergency that is the suffering of the people and the economic crisis. The whole country, including the majority that voted for the government, is asking for a real solution. Where is it?” Kumar Sangakkara responded to a Sri Lankan Journalist.
IPL team, Mumbai Indian’s head coach, Jayawardene, also voiced his opinions against the Sri Lankan government for trying to suffocate people’s voices through curfews and detentions.
The national emergency has adversely affected the broadcast of IPL 2022 in Sri Lanka. The telecast of the cricket league has been suspended due to a foreign exchange crisis. Besides, Sangakkara and Jayawardene are head coaches in the IPL 2022.
(Avya Mathur)