SLCA breaks 18-year tie with FICA

• Ken de Alwis says the approach FICA wanted us to make to the players and SLC, we were not comfortable in doing

SLCA Secretary Ken de Alwis

The Sri Lanka Cricketers Association (SLCA), a founder-member of the Federation of International Cricketer Association (FICA) in 2003, has broken ties with the international body after 18 years.

A media release to that effect reads:

“Sri Lankan Cricketers Association (SLCA) which was a founder member of Federation of International Cricketer Association (FICA) will no longer be a part of FICA. SLCA will continue with its commitment towards the betterment and welfare of all cricketers in Sri Lanka.”

SLCA secretary Ken de Alwis speaking to the Daily FT said: “We’ve decided to move on because of the differences. We as an association thought that it is best for cricket in Sri Lanka that we move away from FICA as of now and to be able to develop the game and the players without having any outside involvement.

“The approach that FICA wanted us to make, the suggestions to the players and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) we were not comfortable in doing. As Sri Lankans we know how things are managed here. How we approached the players and how the players were involved with SLC in the confrontation they are having now, we were not comfortable, and we didn’t want to be a part of it. These kinds of pressures and differences were taking place, so we thought that we’ll move away from FICA,” said De Alwis, who was a FICA board member representing SLCA since its inception.

“Basically, the situation the cricketers are having now with their contract dispute I think, has escalated certain issues. As a group we thought we’ll move away from FICA, but we still have a dialogue with SLC. We will help cricketers and help develop the game. We have given a proposal to SLC for the career development of all these players. These guys won’t have any jobs after leaving cricket. We got involved and we have given a career development path after cricket which the SLC is looking at positively.”

The SLCA was formed in 2002 purely to assist cricketers and be their go-between with SLC. Its current president is former Sri Lanka fast bowler and ICC match referee Graeme Labrooy. (ST)