Sri Lanka sack entire cricket board after Cricket World Cup humiliation against India

The writing was on the wall and the extreme step was finally taken on Monday.

Sri Lanka's sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the entire cricket board after the cricket team's humiliating performance at the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The decision came days after Sri Lanka faced an embarrassing defeat against India, where they were bowled out for a mere 55.

Ranasinghe was at loggerheads with Sri Lanka Cricket for a few months over allegations of widespread corruption.

The Sports Minister's office stated that 1996 World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointe chairman of a new interim board. Ranasinghe publicly demanded the entire board's resignation.

On Saturday Ranasinghe wrote to full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) -- which has rules against political interference in the sport -- asking for understanding and support.

"Sri Lanka Cricket has been besieged with complaints of player disciplinary issues, management corruption, financial misconduct and match-fixing allegations," Ranasinghe said in the letters, released to Sri Lankan media.

The minister was forced by the ICC to withdraw a three-member panel he had appointed last month to investigate alleged corruption at the board after it was deemed to be political interference.