Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel
Sri Lanka Cricket’s governance crisis has kept the sport in the headlines for months, and any hint of fresh ICC pressure tends to spread fast. This week, posts claimed ICC Chairman Jay Shah personally warned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that Sri Lanka would be blacklisted again unless SLC elections were held before 31 July 2026. We investigated whether any such warning was actually given.
Social Media Posts :
A front-page report in the Daily Mirror on 22 June 2026 claimed these matters were discussed during a meeting between the ICC Chairman and President Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, and that a firm ultimatum had been set ; hold SLC elections by 31 July, or face blacklisting. dailymirror.lk | Archived Link
Prompted by reader requests, we investigated the accuracy of this claim.
Fact-Check :
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and ICC Chairman Jay Shah met on the afternoon of 19 June at the Presidential Secretariat. No report from that meeting indicates that the ICC or Shah issued any warning of punitive action against Sri Lanka.
After the meeting, Shah posted on his X account that it was a privilege to discuss the future of Sri Lankan cricket with the President. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s legacy in world cricket and praised its track record of hosting successful tournaments. His post made no mention of SLC elections or any blacklisting threat. X
Sri Lanka Cricket’s Official Statement Made No Mention of Any Deadline
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) issued an official media release on the visit by the ICC Chairman and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) Secretary. It stated that the ICC delegation was briefed on the progress and timelines of the newly appointed Transformation Committee’s work on reforming the cricket constitution.
The release said Shah commended these steps and pledged continued ICC support for governance transparency and stability. It made no reference to any requirement that elections be held by 31 July, and no mention of blacklisting. srilankacricket.lk
Sri Lanka Cricket’s Media Manager Calls the Report Entirely False
When we contacted Sri Lanka Cricket’s Manager of Media and Communications, Prasanna Rodrigo, about the Daily Mirror report, he dismissed it as completely false and stated firmly that the ICC Chairman never made any such statement.
Asked whether elections would be held before the 31 July deadline, he said the process would take time and that no final decision had been made. He added that the Ministry of Sports had also not yet ruled on the matter.
Presidential Media Division Calls the Report “False and Misleading”
The Presidential Media Division (PMD) officially declared the report “false and misleading” and said it had no basis in truth. In its statement, the PMD said the discussion between the President and Shah focused entirely on school cricket development, nurturing youth talent, and improving sports infrastructure. Facebook
Daily Mirror Later Acknowledged That Both PMD and SLC Rejected Its Report
The Daily Mirror subsequently published a follow-up confirming that the PMD had rejected its original report. The follow-up also noted that former Sri Lankan captain and Cricket Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny strongly denied that the ICC had threatened to blacklist Sri Lanka over election delays.
Wettamuny said the new SLC constitution is nearing completion, with the Transformation Committee aiming to table the finalized draft before Parliament by the end of the month. SLC says the document is largely complete, with the Transformation Committee finalizing the necessary legal vetting before submitting it for ratification by both the ICC and Parliament. Read the full Daily Mirror follow-up here | Archived
The original Daily Mirror report on a possible blacklisting may have stemmed from a CricketAddictor article, which cited a Sportstar exclusive, claiming the ICC had sent a letter to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva the previous week, stressing the need for democratic elections without further delay. The exact contents of that letter remain undisclosed.
How a Cricket Board Election Works
The electorate consists of delegates from major cricket clubs, provincial cricket associations, and district cricket associations affiliated with Sri Lanka Cricket. A core ICC rule requires that national cricket boards be run by democratically elected officials, with no direct intervention from government or political authorities.
The Current Crisis and Why an Election Is Needed
The previous SLC President and Executive Committee resigned in April 2026 amid financial irregularities and corruption allegations. The Ministry of Sports and the government then appointed a Transformation Committee to keep the sport running. Because the ICC consistently opposes governance by interim committees, Sri Lanka needs to hold democratic elections promptly to install a stable, officially recognized governing body.
The New Constitution Under Sidath Wettamunuy
The committee chaired by Sidath Wettamuny is drafting a new SLC constitution. The previous constitution faced widespread allegations of corruption and vote manipulation during elections. The new charter aims to reduce the number of voting clubs to create conditions for a more transparent and fair election. The draft is due to go to Parliament and the ICC for ratification by the end of this month.
When Will the Election Actually Be Held?
The government and the Transformation Committee plan to hold elections under ICC oversight only after the constitutional reforms are fully ratified, transferring administrative control of Sri Lanka Cricket to a fully independent governing body.
The Roadmap Ahead
Phase I involves submitting the finalized draft constitution to both the ICC and Parliament for ratification by the end of June. Phase II will see Parliament enact the document into law as the new Cricket Act. Phase III will hold a transparent election under the new charter, transferring authority to a democratically elected board.
The ICC Suspension of Sri Lanka : November 2023
Sri Lanka Cricket’s worst crisis came on 10 November 2023, when the ICC Executive Board voted to suspend Sri Lanka’s ICC membership with immediate effect. ICC rules require every member board to operate free of political interference. After Sri Lanka’s poor showing at the 2023 World Cup, then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe dissolved the entire Cricket Executive Committee and appointed an Interim Committee headed by Arjuna Ranatunga.
Citing this direct political interference, the ICC suspended Sri Lanka immediately. The country’s voting rights and funds as an ICC member were frozen, and Sri Lanka lost its hosting rights for the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, which the ICC relocated to South Africa.
When Was the Suspension Lifted?
After the Sri Lankan government dissolved the Interim Committee and restored administrative authority to democratically elected officials, the ICC fully lifted the suspension on 28 January 2024, roughly two months after it was first imposed.
Join us to learn more about our fact-check investigations.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google News | TikTok | YouTube
Conclusion :
Our investigation found no evidence that ICC Chairman Jay Shah warned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of an impending blacklisting if elections were not held before 31 July. Both Sri Lanka Cricket and the Presidential Media Division have categorically denied this specific claim, and no mention of any such ultimatum appears in any of Shah’s official statements.
Sri Lanka Cricket is genuinely working toward elections under a new constitution, with a draft due before Parliament and the ICC by the end of June. But the specific claim that Jay Shah personally threatened blacklisting over a 31 July deadline is false.
Title: No, ICC Has Not Warned That Sri Lanka Will Be Blacklisted Again If SLC Elections Are Not Held Before July 31
Fact Check By: Pavithra Sandamali
Result: False
