The ICC has suspended funding to Cricket Canada over governance-related issues. Cricket Canada was informed earlier this week by the global governing body and faces a freeze in the funding it receives for the next six months.

ESPNcricinfo understands the funding suspension will not impact any cricket activities, including high performance programmes. But it will be a significant blow to Cricket Canada, who, as an Associate Member, rely heavily on ICC distributions. Its financial statement for the year-ending 2024 showed that income from the ICC made up 63% of the board’s total income (CAD$3.6 million out of a total revenue of CAD$5.7 million).

The details around the governance failures are not yet known, though the fifth estate in Canada, an investigative documentary programme, has reported “breaches of ICC policies, including concerns over Cricket Canada’s governance and lack of financial oversight.”

Cricket Canada has gone through a period of turmoil on and off the field recently. Canada’s match against New Zealand at the recent T20 World Cup is the subject of a probe by the ICC’s anti-corruption and integrity unit.

Another ACU investigation is underway, stemming from a recording of a telephone call involving then Canada coach Khuram Chohan,  in which he claimed that senior (now former) Cricket Canada board members put pressure on him to select certain players to the national side. The audio was leaked last year and also contains claims of attempts to corrupt matches.

Last month, in a statement to ESPNcricinfo on the corruption investigation, Andrew Ephgrave, the ICC’s interim anti-integrity unit head had said: “Governance matters in relation to ICC Members are considered by the ICC, where they fall under its jurisdiction, in accordance with the ICC’s standard constitutional processes.”

Cricket Canada has also faced administrative challenges over the last year, most notably in the appointment and subsequent removal of former CEO Salman Khan. His appointment had attracted ICC attention, for failing to disclose prior criminal charges and he has been charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police. Salman has denied the claims. In April, Arvinder Khosa was made the interim board president, replacing Amjad Bajwa.

The ICC’s funding decision came immediately after Cricket Canada’s annual general meeting last weekend (May 9-10), in which the board announced reforms it said were part of its “ongoing governance transformation initiative”. It also elected a new nine-person board of directors, with Khosa elected president, after his interim stint.

The ICC did not comment on the development and ESPNcricinfo has approached Cricket Canada for comment. In a statement to the fifth estate, the board’s media manager Jimmy Sharma said: “The current Board has inherited these issues and is fully committed to resolving all governance, compliance, and financial control deficiencies.”

[Cricinfo]

National thrower Dilhani Lekamge produced her season’s best performance to emerge victorious in the women’s javelin event on day two of the Selection Trial held at Diyagama on Friday.

‎Fresh from winning the silver medal at the recently concluded Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo, Lekamge delivered an impressive throw of 58.57 metres to comfortably secure first place. Her nearest challenger, D.H. Maduwanthi, could only manage a distance of 51.32 metres.

‎Meanwhile, reigning national champion Madushani Herath continued to stamp her authority in the horizontal jumps with another notable performance, clearing 6.18 metres. Competing in the Under-23 age category, Herath further strengthened her position as the country’s leading long jumper.

‎In the open women’s long jump event, which featured several junior athletes, G.S. Ranaweera emerged victorious with a leap of 5.83 metres.

‎The women’s 400 metres final saw experienced sprinter Nadeesha Ramanayake being pipped to second place by G.A. Sathsarani, who clocked an impressive winning time of 53.71 seconds.

‎In the men’s events, Y.W. Kumara claimed the triple jump title with a leap of 16.28 metres, while Janindu Lakvijaya won the 110 metres hurdles in a time of 14.25 seconds, adding further excitement to an eventful second day of competition at Diyagama. (RF)

The inaugural game of the Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played between the Jaffna and Galle teams, who emerged as the Champions and Runners-up respectively in the 2024 season.

The opening game is scheduled to be played on 17th July at the SSC Grounds, commencing at 7.30 p.m.

Prior to the start of the tournament opener, a spectacular opening ceremony will be held at the SSC Grounds in Colombo.

The Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played from 17th July to 8th August across four venues: SSC, Colombo; RDICS, Dambulla; PICS, Pallekele; and RPICS, Colombo.

The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the owner of the LPL, in partnership with The IPG Group, the event rights holder.