Breaking: Under-19 World Cup 2024 Shifted To South Africa As ICC Decides To Uphold SLC's Suspension: Reports

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday (November 21), shifted the upcoming Under-19 World Cup to South Africa from Sri Lanka. The huge decision comes just a few days after the ICC suspended the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to administrative uncertainty.

On November 10, the governing body of the game suspended SLC with immediate effect over government interference. In a statement, the ICC said that “the SLC had breached its obligations as a member, in particular the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and without government interference.”

Just before ICC’s decision, Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe had sacked the entire SLC board following Sri Lanka’s disastrous campaign in the World Cup. The Islanders finished at the ninth spot in the ten-team competition and also missed out on qualifying for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Ranasinghe also appointed World Cup-winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga as the head of an interim committee for the SLC. However, Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal issued a two-week stay order on Ranasinghe’s decision and reinstated the SLC regime helmed by President Shammi Silva. Later, the Sri Lankan parliament passed a resolution seeking the cricket board’s removal which played a key role in ICC’s decision.

Under-19 World Cup shifted from Sri Lanka to South Africa:

Following the turmoil in Sri Lanka Cricket, the ICC has decided to shift the next edition of the Under-19 World Cup to South Africa, according to Cricbuzz. The decision was taken by the ICC board in an ongoing meeting in Ahmedabad.

The report stated that the ICC has decided to uphold the decision to suspend the SLC after a detailed deliberation. The ICC has said that while the suspension will not be overturned, the cricket involving the island team will continue uninterrupted.

“It was a unanimous decision by the board that the suspension cannot be lifted. Cricket in the country will continue as normal,” a source told Cricbuzz.

The Under-19 World Cup was scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka in January and February next year. Sri Lanka were gearing up to become only the second country after New Zealand to host the competition thrice. They had previously hosted the Under-19 World Cup in 2000 and 2006. A total of 16 teams will be participating in the upcoming edition.