Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal overturned the sports minister’s decision to sack the country’s crisis-hit cricket board and reinstated sacked officials pending a full hearing on Tuesday.

The court accepted a petition filed by board president Shami Salva on Monday challenging Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s move to dismiss the Sri Lanka Cricket Board and appoint an interim committee. Ranasinghe has accused the board of widespread corruption while his sacking of its members came days after the islander’s men’s cricket team was thrashed by India at the World Cup.

As Tuesday’s court verdict was read, members of the interim committee headed by former captain Arjun Ranatunga walked out of Sri Lanka Cricket’s offices and restored officials took over.

The government is divided over the issue, with the cabinet appointing a rival committee headed by Foreign Minister Ali Sabri to resolve “remaining issues” at the cricket board.

(Clonazepam)