Sri Lanka Cricket boss Shammi Silva finally walked back to the pavilion, calling time on his innings with a year still left on the clock. The entire Executive Committee followed suit, resigning en masse after a meeting yesterday. Their exits come into effect today, SLC Secretary Bandula Dissanayake confirmed to The Island.
Silva, elected for a two-year term in 2025, made a habit of winning cricket elections uncontested. This was his fourth straight victory at the polls, having taken over from his confidant and Nalanda College schoolmate Thilanga Sumathipala.
A heavyweight in the corridors of power, Shammi Silva remained a favourite among member clubs and stakeholders. But outside that inner circle, the murmurs grew louder. Public sentiment began to work against him ever so loudly in recent months. Sri Lanka’s inconsistent returns on the field and whispers of interference in cricketing matters meant the scoreboard wasn’t always in his favour.
His decision to back Pramodya Wickramasinghe as Chairman of Selectors raised eyebrows and the decision to remove Charith Asalanka from the captaincy, on the eve of a World Cup, surprised many.
The turning point came after the disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign. Then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe attempted to pull the plug, sacking Shammi and his committee. Parliament backed the move, but Shammi bounced back, aided by influential allies like Sagala Ratnayaka.
Under the current government, the writing was on the wall and Shammi chose to walk before the umpire was called into action.
A talented all-round sportsman in his youth, Shammi represented Nalanda College in multiple disciplines and went on to play First Class cricket for Colombo Cricket Club, where he still serves as President. His seven-year stint at the helm of SLC was no flash in the pan – it matched the long stays of heavyweights like Gamini Dissanayake and Robert Senanayake.
by Rex Clementine