The Associated Press

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Former player to head interim cricket committee after minister suspends Sri Lanka cricket board

Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka, left and Maheesh Theekshana walks off the field after losing the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match against India in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka, left and Maheesh Theekshana walks off the field after losing the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match against India in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s sports minister has appointed former captain Arjuna Ranatunga to head an interim administration of the cricket board after suspending the elected body over allegations of corruption and irregularities.

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe issued a notice on Monday suspending the executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket and said he took the action to investigate findings of an audit report on the conduct of the board officials during last year’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

The seven-member interim committee also includes three retired judges.

The board’s suspension comes amid growing public anger against the administrators and players over Sri Lanka’s dismal performance in the ongoing World Cup tournament in India.

The 1996 champions now only have a remote chance of reaching the semifinals after losing five out of seven matches in the round-robin stage.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket