ICC’s inaction to protect Test cricket worries Arjuna  

Sri Lanka’s former Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga has voiced his concerns about the International Cricket Council’s inaction to protect the future of Test cricket. Franchise T-20 cricket is mushrooming around the world and the cash rich IPL has now stretched beyond India owning franchises in other parts of the world. Ranatunga warned that future for the longest format of the game is bleak and franchise owners will soon be running the sport.

“People who used to be involved in ICC were proper gentlemen and they protected the game. At present, I am afraid that we are heading in the wrong direction giving priority to franchise cricket. The ICC has done precious little to address the issue,” Ranatunga told a media briefing in Colombo.

“ICC should be doing much more to stop the dominance of franchises. Take a look at what happened in South Africa recently. They picked a Test squad to tour New Zealand without any of their key players. They allowed the leading players to be involved in franchise cricket simultaneously. This is wrong. The ICC should have got involved and done something about it. They keep their mouths shut. Through franchise cricket, business entities are earning money. The future looks bleak and cricket will mostly be franchise based in future and the governing body has to address this issue.”

The 1996 World Cup winning captain also questioned the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket. “There had been 15 Interim Committees or Competent Authorities in Sri Lanka appointed by some eight Sports Ministers. We never had a problem. Because no one complained to ICC of interference. But Shammi Silva went and put the country down for his own benefit. He is responsible for the ban.”

“Today people are so fed up that they don’t want to come to the grounds and watch games. People know that corrupt administrators are ruining the game and have ruined the sport.”

Both Arjuna and former Test cricketer Charith Senanayake emphasized the danger posed by dubious franchise owners. Ranatunga said that some of the franchise owners of Sri Lanka’s LPL cannot even enter India due to corruption issues.