Minister’s cricket plan to take the game to the next plane

Huge pay hikes for domestic cricket

Domestic cricketers in Sri Lanka set to receive a hefty pay hike, if game’s keepers adopts a domestic cricket restructuring proposal prepared by the Sports Ministry appointed Cricket Advisory Committee.

The committee headed by businessman Hemaka Amarasuriya includes former Sri Lanka skippers in Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara who have often highlighted the importance of revamping the existing system.

In the wake of recent defeats, the call for restructuring of the domestic game was growing louder than ever and a committee was appointed by the Ministry of Sports to make recommendations to restructure the game at the domestic level in a bid to stop the slide.

Sri Lanka Cricket has called for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on the first Sunday of January (January 7, 2018) among other matters, to approve and adopt the new domestic cricket structure prepared by SLC’s own tournament committee but there’s a greater possibility of this proposal too being presented to the membership.

The Sunday Times is in the possession of a copy of the proposal which recommends a contract fee and an increase match fees for domestic cricketers--particularly for those playing in the provin- cial cricket tournament-- which will be country’s premier cricket tournament from next year.

The proposed system is quite similar to a city-based Elite Championships proposed by the SLC in 2015, except that it has gone through fine-tuning to meet the growing demands of world cricket.

Last year SLC offered annual contracts to 70 domestic cricketers and they were paid a contract fee of between Rs. 300,000 and Rs. 1.2 million a year depending on their respective categories and performances but the proposed system seems more structured and lucrative.

They have also requested Sri Lanka Cricket to agree upon a similar payment scheme for those playing in the inter-club cricket tournament which will serve as the feeder for the provincial tournament.

Accordingly, a player’s income will range from Rs. 2.3 million to Rs 2.55 million during the first phase of the tournament which will see only four teams in action.

If the board approves a base price of Rs. 500,000 and match fees of Rs. 150,000 for a four- day game, Rs. 100,000 for 50- over game and Rs. 50,000 per T20 match, a player will receive Rs.2.3 million during the Provincial tournament, a huge increase in their seasonal earnings. However, if the base price increases by another Rs. 250,000, a player will earn Rs. 2.55 million even if the team does not qualify to the semis.

This is the minimum a player could earn and it would go up to a maximum of Rs. 4.35 million if the match fees increase by Rs. 100,000 for all three formats during the first phase of the tournament.

The phase two of the tournament will see the addition of fifth provincial team which means a player could earn a pay package ranging from Rs 2.9 million to Rs. 5.55 million based on which financial package Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to implement. The third phase of the tournament which includes six provincial teams will see the players salary vary from Rs. Rs. 3.5 million to Rs. 6.75 million.

This however requires substantial financial commitment from Sri Lanka Cricket and it’s not clear whether SLC is ready to foot the bill for such a venture, even if it means for the players-game’s primary stakeholder. The tournament will cost a minimum of Rs. 131.25 million during the first, Rs 182.55 million in the second and Rs 233.855 million in Phase three.

According to the proposal outlined by the committee all the 24 first-class clubs will be clustered into provinces permanently to ensure continuity and quality and will play T20, 50-over and four-day matches on home and away basis.

As proposed, each team will play seven matches in phase one including the final. The phase one will have only four teams while it will be increased to 10 and 12 in Phase 2 and Phase 3 respectively in two shorter formats. The four-day tournament will see each team playing 9 and 6 matches in Phase 2 and 3 respectively.

The committee has also advised that all the provincial matches be played in purpose-build international stadiums to familiarise the players with the conditions and atmosphere prevalent in international cricket.

This will help players play better cricket with better facilities exposing them to same experience as in international cricket. They have also advised to form a three- member selection panel in each province. It will work hand in glove with the national selectors. Each province will have 20 players during the first phase but number will be reduced to 18 thereafter.

However, the first class tournament which includes 24 clubs will remain intact, except that they will be playing in one segment as opposed to playing in two segments--Tier A and B at present. The inter- club tournament will serve as the player feeder for the Provincial tournament.

Even though all 24 teams have the first class status, a move by the present administrators to please their club voters, the level of competition in the twotier tournament is far apart with the topnotch cricketers in Tier A and those average cricketers playing in Tier B.

Accordingly, the new recommendations are aimed at giving every player an equal opportunity to get selected to the provincial teams which will serve as the only base for national team selection.

The committee has found it was difficult to select players to provincial teams under the existing system given the differences in level of competition in two segments. Hence the committee insists that all 24 clubs should play in one tournament, divided into four groups of six teams. Teams will vie for Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield tournaments based on their group standings. They have also proposed to include at least three school leavers in every club team expose them early into first class cricket.

The committee believes, this system will allow every player an equal opportunity to get selected to the provincial teams as there is an even comparison among the players and their performances.

According to the committee, the proposed structure will result in every good player getting an opportunity to get selected to a provincial team and then to the national team also with the player migration there will be better balanced provincial teams in the future which will further improve the quality and the competitiveness of the provincial tournament.