Sri Lankan Sports Minister Defends Team Amid Night Club Controversy

Sri Lankan Sports Minister Harin Fernando has challenged critics to prove that the cricket team's night club visit led to their early exit from the T20 World Cup. The team finished third in Group D, failing to progress to the Super 8s stage. Fernando took over the ministry in November 2023.

Sri Lankan Sports Minister Harin Fernando on Monday defended the national cricket team in light of allegations that a late-night club visit contributed to their premature exit in the T20 World Cup.

The team could not advance to the Super 8s, placing third in Group D behind South Africa and Bangladesh.

Fernando challenged critics to substantiate these claims, offering his resignation if they could do so. He succeeded Roshan Ranasinghe in November 2023, after Ranasinghe was dismissed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe for interfering with the Sri Lanka Cricket management.

The International Cricket Council had suspended Sri Lanka's membership following government interference. Fernando asserted that all necessary facilities were provided to the players. The team managed just one win against the Netherlands, while they lost to South Africa and Bangladesh; their match against Nepal was washed out.

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