February 02, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 23, 1429

COLOMBO, Feb 1: Sri Lanka’s new cricket chief and former captain Arjuna Ranatunga has revealed his board has no money left and is banking on financial support from India to stay afloat.

Ranatunga, who was appointed head of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the country’s President Mahinda Rajapakse earlier this month, said the board was surviving on bank borrowings.

Allegations of graft and kickbacks have dogged the island’s cricket administration for years and Ranatunga, 44, has asked a team of auditors to investigate the board’s finances.

Sri Lanka’s cricket had not been short of sponsors after the island won its only World Cup under Ranatunga’s captaincy in 1996, but the kitty has been running dry in recent times.

Most of the money that the SLC earns these days is through prize money won by the national team that includes the world’s leading Test wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan.

Ranatunga, however, was confident he will meet his target to streamline the administration and nurture new talent.

“I promised the president that I will put things right,” said the nation’s legendary captain who quit international cricket in 2000 after playing 93 Tests and 269 one-dayers and is now a ruling party lawmaker. “India visit us this year and we are looking towards the Indian tour to earn some money,” he said. “India has financial muscle due to the massive captive (domestic) TV audience. They have also helped us financially.—AFP