The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) is in crisis again after the resignation of four office bearers, including the secretary and the treasurer, ahead of next month's key ICC meeting. The four members quit in protest against a government decision to nominate former chairman Tilanga Sumathipala to attend the meeting at Lord's.

"What is likely to happen is that the government will nominate four new members," said a top cricket official, "and perhaps even reconstitute the board completely in the next few days."

Sumathipala's election in 1999 had been blocked by the then government, affiliated with President Chandrika Kumaratunga, whose uncle unsuccessfully contested the post. The board has since remained locked in controversy.

Last week, police reopened an investigation into the controversial 1999 board elections, marred by unprecedented violence and allegations of corruption, with Kumaratunga's security unit implicated in attacks against some office bearers. The BCCSL is the country's richest sporting body.

It has been collecting large sums for television and sponsorship rights since Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996.

Fresh elections were due in March, but the government has allowed an interim board of professionals to continue in a bid to prevent politicians and businessmen from taking charge of the purse strings.

Kumaratunga has openly criticised businessmen and politicians seeking to join the board.

She said she wanted retired cricketers or sportsmen to run the BCCSL, which had an income of 800 million rupees (US$8.3 million) but was not properly audited.

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