SLC contracts for 24 national players, six development cricketers

A total of 24 national cricketers will be offered central contracts, a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official confirmed yesterday, with a further six to be awarded development contracts.

It was reported that certain senior players had voiced their concerns regarding potential salary reductions through the new contracts, but SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said this matter had been addressed.

“We had a meeting with some of the players who had raised certain concerns regarding clauses in their contracts, but we explained those areas individually to them,” he said.

“The players who are travelling to Bangladesh were given their contracts yesterday, and we will give the players who are here their contracts on Monday (today),” de Silva said, adding that players who travelled to Bangladesh would be given tour contracts until they sign the central contracts.

“The national selection committee, Head Coach Mickey Arthur determined which players should be awarded central contracts, while Director of Cricket Tom Moody participated as an observer,” de Silva said.

SLC is yet to release a list of the 24 players, but according to figures circulating on social media and reported by other media outlets, all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella will be the two highest-paid players, each with an annual salary of US$ 100,000, roughly Rs. 19.7 million.

It was reported that certain senior players had voiced their concerns regarding potential salary reductions through the new contracts, but SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said this matter had been addressed

Former national captain Angelo Mathews, who was the highest earner in the last set of contracts, having reportedly earned just north of Rs. 23 million, has been given a significant pay cut with his annual fee reduced to around Rs. 15 million, and is one of several senior cricketers to be offered lesser annual salaries, as suggested by the figures being circulated.

The terms of the new contracts had been recommended by the Sports Minister’s Technical Advisory Committee, de Silva confirmed.

“The number of players who should be awarded contracts, the modules and the process for selections and related clauses have been recommended by the Technical Committee,” de Silva added.

The Technical Committee is headed by former national cricketer Aravinda de Silva, with Roshan Mahanama, Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara also in the committee.