Cricket: Sri Lanka elects board’s new chief

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s national cricket board was elected uncontested amid allegations that political pressure had forced favourites to withdraw from the first election in seven years. Businessman Upali Dharmadasa became president of Sri Lanka Cricket unopposed as front-runner Thilanga Sumathipala withdrew at the last minute. The election was called by the government to ensure that the island was in line with an International Cricket Council (ICC) directive requiring all national boards to be independently voted in by June 2012. Meanwhile, Mohan de Silva, who also withdrew, said he and fellow candidates pulled out because the election process was unjust.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.