Former ICC legal chief David Becker to arrive in Sri Lanka to draft new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket

As part of a move to overhaul the governance structure of Sri Lanka Cricket, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has engaged the services of former International Cricket Council (ICC) legal chief David Becker to assist in drafting its proposed new constitution.

Becker, a renowned South African sports lawyer, is set to arrive in the island to advise and begin discussions on the constitutional framework. He served the International Cricket Council from 2007 to 2012, where he is renowned as one of the leading lawyers in the world of cricket, working on its legal affairs, governance structures, commercial agreements and disciplinary matters.

The constitutional reform process is being led by the ‘Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee’, headed by former banker and politician Eran Wickramaratne. The committee’s main objective is to introduce a governance structure that significantly reduces the scope for vote-buying, undue influence and fraudulent behaviour in cricket administration.

Sri Lanka Cricket officials believe that Becker’s expertise in international sports governance will be instrumental in shaping the new constitution in line with the International Cricket Council’s requirements and international best practices. The ICC continues to emphasise that its member bodies must be free from political interference and operate with a transparent and accountable governance structure.

Once the new constitution is finalised, Sri Lanka Cricket plans to submit it for review and approval by the International Cricket Council and the Sri Lankan Legal Drafting Department in parallel. After the necessary amendments and approvals are obtained, it will be forwarded to the domestic approval process, including parliamentary consideration.

The adoption of this new constitution is considered a very important prerequisite for the next Sri Lanka Cricket elections to be held.

Although the International Cricket Council has asked Sri Lanka Cricket to hold the elections as soon as possible, officials are keen to get this new governance framework in place before a new administration is appointed.