BIPIN DANI
In a move that signals deep concern over the state of club cricket, former Sri Lankan captain, Ajuna Ranatunga has announced his resignation from the Executive Committee of the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC). His decision stems from what he describes as a failure by the club’s leadership to prioritize cricket and implement necessary reforms.
Ranatunga, a long-standing advocate for Sri Lankan cricket, expressed disappointment with the direction SSC cricket has taken. “I have been very vocal with regard to cricket at the club for many years,” he stated, noting that under previous leadership, senior cricketers were consulted on key cricketing matters. However, he believes that, in recent years, some committee members have been more focused on personal agendas rather than improving the club’s cricketing stature.
The most concerning issue for Ranatunga is SSC’s relegation to Division Two in the Club Tournament, a development he finds “humiliating.” Despite his hope that the appointment of Mr. Ranjith Pandithage as president would usher in positive change, he lamented the fact that no meaningful policy shifts have taken place to reverse the decline.
“I feel that it is of no use or value, my being a member of the Executive Committee,” Ranatunga expressed in a letter, seen by this Reporter, also citing poor decision-making within the Cricket House Committee that he believes has negatively impacted both SSC and Sri Lankan cricket overall. Given this continued lack of action, he has stepped away from his role with deep disappointment.
Having joined SSC as a schoolboy cricketer and remained a member for over four decades, Ranatunga regards the club as his second home. Despite his resignation, he remains hopeful that the organization will undergo policy changes that truly benefit cricket, ensuring SSC regains its rightful stature in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.
His resignation marks another chapter in Sri Lanka’s broader debate over the management and future of club-level cricket, highlighting the need for strong leadership and reforms.
