NEWS
Follow UsAfter months of dispute, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have confirmed that a total of 18 players, including Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, have signed national contracts that will run up to December 31, 2021.
Earlier in the year, dispute between the board and players saw a host of Sri Lankan players, including senior members, refuse to sign national contracts, due to which SLC had to resort to awarding contracts on a series-by-series basis. Unhappy with the criteria through which the contracts were awarded, players had refused to sign and were also critical of the board’s lack of transparency.
But the issue has now been resolved, and SLC have confirmed that 18 players have signed five-month contracts.
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that 18 players signed the National Player Contracts, which came into effect from 01st August 2021,” the SLC said in a statement.
“The new contract will be for a 05 month period and will end on the 31st December 2021.
“The players signed the contracts without any deviation from the contracts offered previously, which was formulated by Sri Lanka Cricket along with the Technical Advisory Committee.
“The players were chosen under four categories and were nominated by the Selection Panel, based on a set of criteria such as Performance, Fitness, Leadership/Seniority, Professionalism/Code of Conduct, and Future/Adaptability.
“The criteria and the allocation of points to individual players were shared among the players before they signed the contracts.”
SLC have also confirmed that the biggest name who is missing from the contracted list is former skipper Angelo Mathews, who is currently unavailable for selection owing to personal reasons.
Contracted players
Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Ashen Bandara, Akila Dananjaya