The Sri Lanka Cricket Bill, aimed at restructuring and reforming the administration of cricket in the country, has been published in an Extraordinary Gazette.
The proposed legislation sets out provisions covering the governance, regulation, promotion, development and administration of Sri Lanka Cricket, including its establishment, objectives, management and overall control.
Under the draft law, Sri Lanka Cricket would be administered by a Board of Directors comprising Independent Directors nominated by a Nominations Committee established under Section 22 and appointed by the Board, along with Elected Directors selected by the voting members of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The legislation also establishes qualifications and eligibility requirements for members of the governing Board. A former cricketer appointed as an Independent Director, for example, must be a person of good standing who has played at least 15 international cricket matches at any time before the 36 months immediately preceding the date of appointment.
The proposed law contains provisions governing Sri Lanka Cricket’s ability to enter into agreements, make investments and undertake joint ventures, strategic alliances, concessions, public-private partnerships, build-operate-transfer arrangements and other commercial, development and operational activities both within and outside Sri Lanka.
It also identifies several categories of persons who would be disqualified from serving on the Board. These include individuals convicted under Sri Lankan law of offences involving moral turpitude, fraud, dishonesty, corruption or violence.
Persons previously removed from office on disciplinary grounds, misconduct or breach of duty would also be subject to disqualification.
The draft legislation further states that individuals who have worked as paid employees in electronic or print media during the three years immediately preceding the submission of nominations would be ineligible to serve on the Board.
Board members and their immediate family members would also be prohibited from having interests in betting, gaming or wagering activities or organisations.
In addition, individuals simultaneously holding positions in a member club or association of Sri Lanka Cricket, or in another National Sports Association established under the Sports Law, would be disqualified from serving on the Board.
The proposed legislation also provides for the establishment of various committees representing different sectors and functions of Sri Lanka Cricket, while setting out provisions concerning the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer and other staff.
The draft law further excludes individuals who have been subjected to penalties, bans, suspensions, prohibitions or disqualifications imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, World Anti-Doping Agency, Sri Lanka Cricket or an affiliated cricket body for offences involving prohibited substances, corruption, betting, match-fixing, spot-fixing or the misuse of insider information.