Shammi Silva expected to leave Sri Lanka Cricket top job in government-led shake-up

Shammi Silva is reportedly preparing to leave his post as head of Sri Lanka Cricket as the government drives a change in the board’s leadership.

Government in charge

Although some committee members are said to want to finish their terms, sources suggest their objections may count for little, with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally overseeing the process.

The 1973 Sports Law gives the Sports Minister power to dissolve sports federations. Doing so with an elected board could worry the International Cricket Council, which generally discourages government involvement in cricket administration. Reports say the ICC has been told of the developments and given assurances that new elections will be held soon. A similar shake-up recently occurred at the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and no immediate ICC action is expected in either case.

Reasons behind the move

The changes are believed to be tied to Sri Lanka’s struggles on the field, including an early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Corruption allegations have also emerged, though no formal charges have been confirmed.

A former SLC president said that, despite successfully hosting major events and building up financial reserves, any drastic move should rest on clear, substantiated allegations. He also suggested the ICC may push for fresh elections within six months.

Second exit for Silva

Silva was removed once before, after Sri Lanka’s poor showing at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, which led to an ICC suspension of SLC and the relocation of the Under-19 World Cup. He returned after winning the 2025 elections, but his term now looks set to end with a year still to run.