South Africa's U-turn forced Sri Lanka Cricket to abstain from voting: Sri Lanka Sports Minister

Sri Lanka Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage today said Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had no other choice but to abstain from voting during the International Cricket Council Board meeting in Singapore, after South Africa did a U-turn on the Big Three's plan to revamp the ICC structure. (ICC revamp good for the game: N Srinivasan)

"When Haroon Lorgat said South Africa was to back it, we had no choice but to abstain from voting. We were banking on South Africa's opposition," Aluthgamage told reporters here.

The Minister said that SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga consulted him on the phone from Singapore on Lorgat's about turn.

"We never expected that," he added.

Sri Lanka alongwith Pakistan abstained at the crucial ICC reforms plan vote in Singapore held on Saturday.

Cricket South Africa was originally not in favour of International Cricket Council's structural revamp, but they later welcomed the agreement, terming it as "significantly different" to the original proposals tabled in January. (Main points of ICC revamp)

The proposals were carried with a majority voting in favour of the "Big Three' -- India (BCCI), England (ECB) and Australia (CA).

Aluthgamage, however, said Sri Lanka had noted some positives in the amended plan, such as retaining of the FTP.

Having abstained at the meeting, SLC announced they would further seek a mandate locally to deal with the revised ICC proposals.  (Sri Lanka to seek new mandate)