COLOMBO, June 6: Former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga has failed in his attempt to become president of the country’s cricket board. He was defeated by former president Thilanga Sumathipala, who won a landslide victory with 121 of the 138 votes cast.

Ranatunga’s former team-mate Aravinda de Silva, now a national team selector, will serve as vice-president after being elected unopposed.

The result will be a bitter blow for Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to victory over Australia in the 1996 World Cup final.

Following his retirement from the game three years ago, the 39-year-old subsequently entered politics and was elected to parliament for the People’s Alliance party in 2001.

Ranatunga’s candidacy followed his successful challenge against a government proposal to prohibit members of parliament from holding office in sports bodies.

Winning the World Cup in 1996 was Sri Lanka’s greatest day. Sri Lankan cricket has been run by various interim committees for more than two years since the last elected Board of Control (BCCSL), also headed by Sumathipala, was dissolved amid allegations of financial irregularities.—PPI